)   j 


AN  ACCOUNT 


OF 


MEMORIALS 

PRESENTED    TO    CONGRESS 

BY  NUMEROUS  FRIENDS  OF  THEIR  COUNTRY 

AND  ITS  INSTITUTIONS , 

PRAYING  THAT 

THE  MAILS  MAY  NOT  BE  TRANSPORTED, 

NOR  POST-OFFICES  KEPT  OPEN, 
ON-  THE  SABBATH. 


JIcUj  JJov<t : 

PIJIJLISHED    AT    THE    UF.QUEST    OF   MANY    PETITIONERS. 

May,  1829. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  SABBATH. 


Eteu  since  the  mail  was  first  transported  in  the  United  States  on 
the  Sabbath,  this  violation  of  the  day  of  rest  has  been  a  source  of  grief 
and  pain  to  many  individuals,  who  are  justly  ranked  among  the  most 
intelligent,  useful,  and  virtuous  of.our  citizens.  To  the  certain  know- 
ledge of  the  compiler  of  these  pages,  much  regret  has  been  expressed, 
by  persons  residing  in  many  parts  of  the  Union,  that  a  practice  so  per- 
nicious in  its  tendency  and  consequences,  should  have  been  sanctioned 
by  any  department  of  our  national  government. 

Post-offices,  in  our  large  towns,  were  gradually  opened,  one  after 
another,  for  a  part  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  in  1810,  a  section  was  inserted, 
in  the  law  regulating  the  post-office,  by  which  post-masters  were  oblig- 
ed to  deliver  letters  at  all  reasonable  hours,  on  every  day  of  the  week. 
This  law  attracted  very  little  attention  at  the  time  ;  and  it  is  supposed, 
that  the  section  alluded  to  was  scarcely  considered  at  all,  except  by  the 
Committee  that  introduced  it.  A  member  of  congress  recently  declar- 
ed it  to  be  very  strange,  that  such  a  provision  should  have  crept  into 
the  law  ;  for  it  was  clearly  a  repeal  of  the  Fourth  Commaiidment. 
Most  certainly  this  is  the  fact,  unless  it  can  be  shown,  that  to  keep 
the  post-office  open  in  every  city,  town,  and  village  of  our  land,  on 
every  Sabbath  of  the  year,  and  in  a  time  of  the  profoundest  peace,  is 
a  work  of  necessity  and  mercy  ;  a  proposition  not  very  likely  to  be  es- 
tablished, when  the  post-office  in  London,  the  most  populous,  the  most 
busy,  and  tlic  most  commercial  city  in  the  world,  is  closed,  during  the 
whole  of  every  Sabbath.  Indeed,  it  is  absurd  to  speak  of  the  business 
of  the  mails  and  the  post-office,  as  being  a  work  of  necessity  at 
all  times,  when  the  custom-house,  the  public  offices  at  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment, and  all  the  courts  of  justice,  are  uniformly  closed  one  day  in 
seven  ;  and  when  great  numbers  of  our  most  active  and  enterprising 
men  of  business  never  receive  their  letters  on  the  Sabbath,  and  yet 
conduct  tlieir   affitirs   with   as  much   skill,  prudence,  and  success  as 

OtluM'S. 

The  keeping  open  of  post-offices,  on  the  day  of  sacred  rest,  has  been 
to  many  hearts  a  still  greater  grief  and  burden,  tlian  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  mail  on  tliat  day.  In  many  towns,  both  large  and  small, 
the  post  office  is  so  located,  as  to  attract  crowds  of  idlers,  who  do  not 
pretend  to  any  plea  of  necessity.  The  young,  if  they  have  not  pious 
parents  or  guardians,  are  led,  by  this  public  and   authorized  show  ol' 


business  to  disregard  the  Sabbath,  and  to  withdraw  themselves  from 
public  worship.  All  these  consequences  were  foreseen  at  once,  by 
those  who  are  accustomed  to  regard  moral  causes  and  their  effects. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  last  war,  numerous  petitions  were  pre- 
sented from  inhabitants  of  different  parts  of  the  United  States,  (on 
the  Atlantic  coast  and  beyond  the  Alleghany  mountains,)  asking  for  a 
removal  of  these  evils,  which  they  had  observed  to  be  increasing.  The 
attention  of  congress  was  in  some  degree  arrested,  and  a  respectful  re- 
port was  made  by  the  post-master  general ;  but  a  regard  to  what  was 
supposed  to  be  the  public  accommodation  and  convenience  prevented 
any  legislative  interposition. 

From  that  time  to  the  present,  the  multipled  evils  of  Sabbath-break- 
ing have  become  more  and  more  apparent ;  and  the  apprehension  has 
been  extensively  felt,  that  an  irresistible  flood  of  business  and  pleasure 
will  roll  over  the  sacred  institutions  of  religion,  and  leave  our  beloved 
land  a  moral  desolation.  Hence  it  has  been  a  subject  of  conversa- 
tion for  years,  in  many  a  circle  of  reflecting  and  patriotic  men,  and  in 
many  states  of  the  Union,  if  not  in  every  state,  that  the  friends  of  the 
Sabbath  should  come  forward,  and  plead  its  claims  before  the  national 
legislature.  It  has  been  said,  from  year  to  year,  that  doubtless  many 
petitions  would  be  offered,  if  the  work  of  petitioning  were  once  seri- 
ously commenced.  But  the  matter  was  delayed  for  reasons,  which, 
though  not  satisfactory,  are  very  apt  to  have  influence  ;  such  as,  "  It 
is  not  our  duty,  in  this  city,  or  town,  to  begin  ;"  or,  "  We  have  pe- 
titioned already,  and  it  has  done  no  good;"  or,  "If our  rulers  have 
not  a  just  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  Sabbath,  petitioning  will 
avail  nothing  ;  and  when  they  shall  have  just  views  on  the  subject, 
they  will  not  need  to  be  petitioned."  It  has,  however,  been  the 
steady  intention  of  numerous  individuals,  to  unite  with  their  fellow- 
citizens  in  forwardixig  petitions,  whenever  a  commencement  should 
be  made. 

It  was  with  the  highest  gratification,  therefore,  that  the  friends  of 
religion,  in  different  parts  of  the  land,  were  informed,  that  a  most 
respectable  committee,  composed  of  gentlemen  of  different  religious 
denominations,  had  been  constituted  in  the  largest  of  our  commercial 
cities,  and  had  sent  forth  an  invitation  to  their  countrymen  to  join  in 
the  petition,  which  was  soon  to  be  presented.  This  was  early  in 
December  last ;  and,  before  the  close  of  that  month,  many  petitions 
had  been  forwarded,  and  some  were  before  the  post-office  committee 
of  each  liouse  of  congress.  Others  continued  to  arrive  till  the  last 
weeks  of  the  session  ;  and,  in  tlie  whole,  four  hundred  and  forty  one 
distinct  petitions  wore  presented  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
twrnty  six*  to  the  Senate.  These  were  severally  referred  to  the  post- 
office  committees. 

After  these  introductory  paragraphs,  it  is  proposed  to  lay  before  the 
public  a  list  of  places ,  from  which  memorials  were  received,  extracts 
from  the  petitions,  selected  names  of  petitioners,  and  a  iiiw  concluding 
observations. 

*  This  number  docs  not  include  a  few  duplicates  sent  to  the  Senate,  havins:  tlie 
same  signatures  as  were  sent  to  the  other  house.  The  whole  number  of  petitions 
presented  to  both  houses  is  467. 


LIST    OF  PLACES, 

ivnd  agiiinst  tlio  transportation  of 
of  po3l-orticce  on  Ibu  Sabbath. 

The  petitions  which  were  presented  to  llio  Senate,  are  indicated  by  the  letters  (Sen.) 


From  wbicli  memoriala  were  rocoivnd  against  tlio  transportation  of  the  mail,  and  the  keeping  open 
of  po3l-orticce  on  Ihu  Sabbath. 


Petitions  from  the  State  of  3IAINE  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of 


Ailjany, 

Albion, 

Andover, 

Augusta, 

Bangor, 

Cornville, 

F.asiport, 

Farniington, 

Fayette, 

Freedom, 

Bath, 

Gray, 

Bluehill,  (2  petitions,)  Hallowell, 

Bucksport,  floulton, 

Chesterville,  Kiliery, 

Clinton,  Limerick, 


North  Yarmouth, 

Orono, 

Orrington, 

Paris, 

Portland, 

Readtield, 

Robbinstown, 

Steuben, 

'i'emple,  (2  petitions,)   York. 

Vassalboro',  (2  pet.) 


Warren, 

Washington, 

Waterville, 

Wayne, 

Wells, 

West  JMachias, 

Wiiithrop, 

Winslow, 


From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Penobscot,  (2  petitions.)  and  York. 

From  inhabitants  of  tlie  State,  without  a  more  particular  designation,  (one  petition.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of 


Andover,  (Senate,) 
Boscawen, 
Chesterfield,  (Sen.) 
Dunbarton, 

Franklin, 


Gilmanton, 
Hampton,  (Sen.) 
Hill.sborougli, 
Hopkinton, 
Leinpslcr, 


New  Chester, 
North  Hampton, 
North  Haverhill, 
JVIIiam, 
Rindge, 


Rochester, 
Salisbury,  (Sen.) 
Sanbornton,  (Sen.) 
Wilmot. 


From  inhabitants  of  the  State,  without  a  more  particulrr  designation,  (one  petition.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  VERMONT  ;   viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of 

Barton,  Charlotte,  Passumsic,  West  Rutland, 

Brandon,  Kellyvale,  Pittsford,  WiUistou. 

Brookfield,  Manchester,  Rockingham, 

BuKLiNfiTON,  Middlcbiiiy,  Rutland, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  County  of  Wa.shinglon, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Stale,  without  a  more  particular  designation,  (one  petition.) 

Petitions  from  the  Stale  of  31ASSACHUSETTS  ;  viz.  From  the  towns  of 


Acton, 

Amherst, 

Andover, 

Do.     West  Parish, 
Ashby, 
Ashfield, 
Barre, 

Belchertown, 
Beverly, 
Blandford, 
Bloody-brook, 
BOSTON.  (2  pet.) 
Bradford, 

Do.     West  Parish, 
Brighton, 
Cambridge, 


Chester, 

Chickapce, 

Colerain, 

Conway, 

Egrcniont, 

Fitchburg, 

Granby,  (2  petitions,) 

Great  Cairington, 

Had  ley, 

Hanover, 

Hardwick, 

Hawley, 

Hin.sdaje, 

Kingston, 

Lee, 

Lenox, 


Lincoln, 

Longmeadow, 

Lvnn.  (2  petitions.) 

Mcdford, 

Middleborough, 

Middlcfield, 

Millbury, 

New  r>raintree. 

New  Rowley, 

Nkwbukvi'okt, 

Newton,  (Senate,) 

Northampton, 

North  Brooklicid, 

Peru. 

Pitlsfield, 

Plainfield, 


Randolph, 

Richmond, 

Salj'.m, 

Sandwich, 

ShelHeld, 

South  Reading, 

Springfield, 

Slockbridge, 

Sturbridge, 

Topsfield, 

Ware, 

Wenham,  (Senate,) 

Westminster, 

West  Springfield, 

West  Stock  bridge, 

Williamstown. 


Petitions  from  the  Slate  of  CONNECTICUT  ;    viz.  From  the  towns  of 


Rozrahville, 
Canton, 
Chester, 
Colchester, 
Coventrv,  Sou 


Oris  wold, 
HAriTKlti'.u, 
Lisbon, 

IMeriden,  (Sen.) 
Par.    IMiddlebmv. 


Do.     N. Par.  (Sen.)  IMiddlctown, 
Derby,  Nkw  Havkn, 

Farniinglon, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Faiilield,  and  Middlesex,  (two  petitions.) 


New  London. 
Norfolk, 
Nortliingion,  (Sen. 

NOKWK'H. 

Poqnetanuck, 
Rocky  Hill, 
Sharon, 


Tolland,  (Sen.) 
I'Arringlon, 
West  Hartford, 
Wethersficid, 
Winchester, 
W  ind-sor, 
Wolcott,  (Sen.) 


Petitions  from  the  State  of  NEW  YORK  ;  viz.  From  the  cities  and  towns  of 


Canajoharie  and 

Palatine, 
Champion, 
Chesier, 
Clarl<son, 
Colesville, 
Durham, 
Elbridge, 
Erieville, 
Franklin, 
Fovvlersville, 
Gaines, 
Gahvay, 
Greece, 

Granville,  (2  pet.> 
Gouverneur, 
Hartland, 
Hornellsville, 
Ithaca, 
Jackson, 
Jamaica, 
Johnstovvji, 
Lansingburgh, 
Le  Roy, 
Ley  den, 
Lima, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Gr 
Montgomery,  Schoharie,  Tompkins. 


Adams, 

Albant, 

Albion, 

Akien  and  Clarence, 

Alexander, 

Amsterdam, 

Antwerp, 

Areadia, 

Augusta, 

Aurelius, 

Aurora, 

Bainbridge, 

Bath, 

Bedford, 

Benton, 

Bergen, 

Bethlehem, 

Bloomfield, 

Bridgchampton, 

Brighton, 

lirooklyn, 

Byron, 

Caiedoniaj 

Cambria, 

Camden, 


Livingston,  (2  pet.) 

Lockport,  (2  pet.) 

Lyons, 

Mamakating    and 
Walkill,     (in 
the  Counties  of 
Orange  and  Sul- 
livan,) 

Manheim, 

Mead's  Creek, 

Wendon, 

Murray, 

New  Rochelle, 

NEW  YORK  CITY, 

Niagara, 

Ogden, 

Palatine, 

Parma, 

Pittsford, 

Potlsdam, 

Prattshurgh, 

Reading  and  Colton, 

Riga, 

Rochester, 

Ro^'allon, 

Sanford, 
eene,  Renssalaer,  St.  Law 


Sackell's  Harbor, 

Salem, 

Schenectady, 

Smithfield  &  Fenner, 

Smithtowu,  L.  L 

Sodus, 

Stafford, 

Stillwater, 

Sweden, 

Syracuse, 

Tappan, 

Tompkins, 

Trenton, 

Troy, 

Victor, 

Virgil, 

Waterford, 

Watertown, 

Western  &  Kirkland, 

Westmoreland, 

Wheatland, 

Williamson, 

Ulysses, 

Youngslown, 


rence,  Schenectady  and 


Petitions  from  the  State  of  NEW  JERSEY  ;  viz.  From  the  towns  of 


Belleville, 

Burlington, 

Chester, 

Cumberland, 

Elizaeethtown, 


Hopewell, 
Mendham, 
Newark, 
New  Brunswick, 


Perth  Amhoy, 
Pitlsgrove, 
Plainticid, 
Princeton, 


Rahway  and 

Woodbridge, 
Salem, 
Trenton. 


Petitions  from  the  Slate  of  PENNSYLVANIA  ;  viz.  From  the  cities  and  towns  of 


Agnew's  Mills, 
Columbia  and  vi- 
cinity, 
Frankfort, 


Greersburgh,  (Bea- 
ver Count}',) 
Harrisbuiigh, 
Rlonlgomery, 


PHILADELPHIA, 

Potlslown, 

Shippenshurg  &  vie. 
Souiinvark, 


Springfield, 
Slrasburg,  (Lancas- 
ter County,) 
Wyalusing, 


From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of 


Lancaster, 
Luzerne, 
Mercer,  (Sen.) 
Northampton, 


Somerset, 
Venango  and 

Butler,  (Sen.) 
Washingrlon, 


Adams, 

Alleghany,  (Sen.) 
Bedford, 
Bradford, 
Chester,  (Sen.) 

Do.    H.  R. 

From  inhabitants  of  the  State  wiliiout  a  more  particular  designation,  (four  petitions.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  DELAWARE  ;   viz.  From  the  towns  of  Lewis,  Smyrna  and 
vicinity. 


Cumberland, 

Do.    and  Perry, 
Dau]ihin, 
Franklin, 
Huntingdon, 


Noithumberland,(2pt.)  Westmoreland, 


Petitions  from  the  State  of  MARYLAND  ;   viz.  From  the  city  of  BALTIMORE. 
From  the  towns  oflJnonsboro',  Greensboro',  and  Kent  Island. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Ann  Arundel,  and  Washington. 

From  the  District  of  COLUMBIA;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Alexandria. 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  VIRGINIA  ;  viz.  From  the  towns  of  Fairfield,  Fredericks- 
BURGii,  Iroiich  Creek,  Greenville,  Middleburg,  Otterbridge,  Petersburgh. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of 


Accomac,  (2 pet.) 

Albemarle, 

Augusta, 


P>e<llbrfl, 

Brooke, 

Esse.x, 


Fluvanna, 
Goochland, 
Greenbrier,  (2  pet.) 


Ilnnover,  (2  pet.) 
Herrico, 
Ring  George, 


King  William,  Nelson,  Prince  Edward,      Spotsylvania, 

Montgomery,  Orange,  Rockbridge,  Westinorelaud. 

Morgan,  Orange  and  Louisa, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Stale  without  a  more  particular  designation,  (two  petitions.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  NORTH  CAROLINA  ;  viz.  From  Tirzah,  and  Wake  Forest. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Cabarrus,  Caswell,  Mecklenburgh,  Nash,  Rocking- 
ham, and  Rowan. 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  SOUTH  CAROLINA  ;  viz.  from  inhabilaalfl  of  Blairsville, 
Camden,  (Sen.)  CHARLESTON,  Columbia,  and  VVinnsboro'. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Districts  of  Chester,  and  Spartansburg. 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  GEORGIA  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Augusta. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Columbia,  and  Telfair,  (two  petitions.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  ALABAMA ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  County'of  Washington. 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  TENNESSEE  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  Hillsborough. 
From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Anderson,  Bedford,  Greene,  Knox,  Roane,  Ruther- 
ford, Smith,  Sullivan,  Warren,  and  Washington. 
From  inhabi'iants  of  the  State,  without  a  more  particular  designation,  (one  petition.) 

Petitions  from  the  State  of  KENTUCKY  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  Danville, 
Elkton,  Millersburgii,  Richmond,  and  Springfield,  (Sen.) 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Callaway,  Fayette  and  adjacent  counties,  (three  peti- 
tions) (Sen.)  Garrard,  (2  petitions,)  Greene,  and  Washington. 

Petition  from  the  State  of  ILLINOIS  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  Fulton  County. 

Petitions  from  the  Stale  of  OHIO  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of 

Andover,  Coshocton,  Norwich,  Tallmadge, 

Athens,  Edinburgh,  Oxford,  Warren, 

Atwater,  Farmington,  Perry,  Washington, 

Austinburgh,  Gustavus,  Randolph,  Waterford, 

Bainbridge,  Hudson,  St.  Clairsville,  (Sen.)    Wayne, 

Bath,  Miamisburgh,  Springfield,  Zanesville. 

Cincinnati, 

From  inhabitants  of  the  Counties  of  Ashtabula,  Brown,  (Sen.)  Butler,  Columbiana  (and 
Beaver,  Pa.)  Delaware,  Greene,  (Sen.)  Hamilton,  Licking,  Portage,  Scioto. 

From  inhabitants  of  the  State,  without  a  more  particular  designation,  (four  petitions.) 

From  the  Territory  of  MICHIGAN  ;  viz.  From  inhabitants  of  Detroit. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  PETITIONS. 

The  right  of  petitioning  and  the  reasons  for  it. 

We,  as  a  part  of  the  members  of  our  great  Republic,  would  exercise  a  privilege, 
to  us  most  dear,  of  petitioning  the  immediate  agents  of  the  people  for  the  redress  of 
any  grievance,  or  the  removal  of  any  hardship,  that  may  be  endured,  or  suflfcred,  by 
any  of  us. 

Now  as  a  people  knowing  and  regarding  our  natural  duties,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  feeling  and  exercising  towards  the  otficers  of  our  government  that  submission 
and  deference,  which  become  a  dutiful  though  magnanimous  and  free  people, — we 
would  petition  the  constituted  authorities  of  our  nation,  for  a  remedy  commensurate 
with  the  inconvenience,  of  which  we  speak. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Callaway  County,  Kentucky. 

As  the  invasion  of  the  Sabbath  is  a  grievance  to  professing  Christians,*  who 
make  a  very  respectable  portion  of  the  community  you  have  the  honor  to  represent, 

♦That  is,  communicants  in  regular  Christian  churches. 


8 

we  hope  that  their  views  and  feelings  will  be  consulted,  so  far  as  they  do  not  inter- 
fere with  the  privileges  and  immunities  of  others.  Such  Christians,  if  they  are 
sincere,  are  the  best  of  your  citizens.  They  pay  a  punctilious  regard  to  human  and 
divine  law.  We  hope  the  voice  of  complaint,  coming  from  such  a  respectable 
quarter,  will  be  heard. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Winnsboro',  Fairfield  District,  South  Carolina. 

This  request  is  dictated  by  no  sectarian  views,  nor  by  any  disposition  to  interfere 
with  the  otficial  business  of  your  honorable  bod}^  but  from  the  purest  motives  of 
patriotism,  and  a  solicitude  to  transmit  unimpaired  to  our  children,  and  our  chil- 
dren's children,  those  immunities,  both  civil  and  sacred,  with  which  the  God  of  nations 
has  exalted  us  above  any  other  people  on  the  globe. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Salem,  Washington  county,  New- York. 

As  true  Americans,  disclaiming  all  party  feelings,  and  party  interest  of  any  tem- 
poral kind,  we  hold,  as  inviolable,  the  right  of  every  citizen  to  worship  God,  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience ;  and  the  privilege  we  take  to  our- 
selves, we  freely  extend  to  all  our  fellow  citizens. 

Your  petitioners  have  observed  with  deep  regret,  that  the  more  we  are  prospered 
as  a  nation,  under  the  smiles  of  a  benign  Providence,  the  more  are  the  precepts  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour,  and  the  authority  of  the  God  of  our  fathers,  openly  violated ; 
until,  as  we  have  every  reason  to  fear,  from  the  pinnacle  of  prosperity  and  glory,  to 
which  the  God  of  Heaven  hath  exalted  our  beloved  country,  we  shall,  by  our  pub- 
lic and  national  sins,  be  precipitated  to  the  abyss  of  irreligion  and  ruin. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Le  Roy,  New- York. 

The  Relief  desired. 

Your  memorialists  do  therefore  respectfully  petition  for  the  eftactment  of  a  law, 
by  which  the  transj^ortation  of  the  mail,  and  the  delivery  of  letters,  &c.  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  shall  be  prohibited. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Philadelphia.     The  same  form  of  a  petition 
was  signed  by  Inhabitants  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  of  other  parts  of  the  country. 

The  undersigned  do  earnestly  solicit  your  honorable  body  to  devise  such  meas- 
ures, that  the  transportation  of  the  mail,  and  the  opening  thereof,  and  the  delivery 
of  letters,  may  no  longer  be  required  on  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Columbia  county,  Georgia. 

Believing  with,  (as  we  think,)  a  majority  of  our  fellow  citizens  throughout  the 
United  States,  that  the  carrying  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath,  especially  in  time  of 
peace,  is  a  violation  of  that  holy  day,  we  therefore  do  humbly  pray,  that  your  hon- 
orable body,  if  in  your  wisdom  you  think  proper,  would  pass  an  act  prohibiting 
the  transportation  of  the  mail,  and  the  keeping  of  post  offices  open,  on  that  day. 
Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Mechlcnburgh  county,  North  Carolina. 

The  undersigned  do  view  the  practice  of  the  post-office  establishment,  relating  to 
the  conveyance  of  the  mails  on  the  Sabbath,  as  a  grievance,  which  we  think  to  be 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  Sacred  Writ,  as  well  as  contrary  to  the  intent  and  meaning 
of  the  laws  of  the  United  States:  We  therefore  solicit  most  humbly  of  the  honora- 
ble Congress  a  redress  of  the  aforesaid  grievance. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rockingham  county,  North  Carolina. 

We  do  not  ask  you  to  put  a  stop  to  the  iniquities  prevailing  in  private  life  ;  but  to 
reform  those  national  evils,  that  are  in  opposition  to  the  best  interests  of  our  coun- 
try, the  law  of  a  holy  and  merciful  God,  to  the  rights  of  religious  men,  and  even  to 
the  rights  of  the  brute  creation. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Greersburgh,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Some  of  the  state  sovereignties  have,  in  vain,  attempted  to  enforce  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  in  the  particulars  aforesaid.  It  is  therefore  to  the  national  legislature, 
that  the  appeal  must  be  made. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  New- York. 

The  subscribers,  believing  that  the  transportation  of  the  mail  and  the  opening  of 
the  post-office  on  Sunchy  arc  unfavorable  to  such  an  observance  of  this  day,  as  be- 
comes a  Christian  community,  respectfully  solicit  Congress  to  abolish  these  prac- 
tices. 


This  application,  we  trust,  will  not  be  misunderstood.  We  do  not  aik  Congress 
to  enforce  any  season,  or  form,  of  public  worship.  We  should  deprecate,  as  among 
the  greatest  evils,  any  legislation  intended  to  favor  the  views  of  a  sect,  or  to  estab- 
lish a  particular  faith.  We  only  pray,  that  Congress  may  not  counteract  by  its  meas- 
ures, those  institutions,  which  are  cherished  by  the  community,  as  the  means  of 
public  and  private  virtue. 

Petition  of  WILLIAM  E.  CHANNING,  and  others,  Inhabitants  of  the  oity  of  Boston. 

Your  niemoriiilists  would  therefore  respectfully  ask  that  Post  Offices  through- 
out the  United  States  may  be  closed  on  the  Sabbath,  and  that  such  provisions  may 
be  made  by  law,  as  will  require  all  contracts  for  the  transportation  of  the  mail  to 
be  confined  to  the  six  secular  days  of  the  week. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of   the  city  of  Boston.     This  form  of  a  petition  waa 
iiigned  by  numerous  petitioners  in  many  parts  of  tlio  country. 

The  undersigned  memorialists  beg  leave  respectfully  to  present  our  petition  and 
earnest  prayer  to  both  Houses  of  Congress,  that  the  transportation  and  opening;  of 
the  mail,  and  delivery  of  letters,  and  any  other  business  relating  to  that  olfice, 
may  no  longer  be  required  on  the  Holy  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Gustavus,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio. 

Great  Interests  at  stake. 
Believing,  as  we  do,  that  the  Cliristian  religion  and  the  Christian  Sabbath  will 
rise  and  fall  together,  your  petitioners  have  long  viewed,  with  increasing  regret, 
the  transportation  and  opening  of  the  United  States'  mail  on  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Charlotte,  Vermont. 

Your  memorialists  must  confess,  that  they  have  a  personal  interest  in  the  subject, 
to  which  they  are  soliciting  the  attention  of  Congress.  They  not  only  wish  to  pre- 
serve their  families  and  friends  from  the  contagion  of  a  bad  example,  and  of  an  al- 
lowed, customary  disregard  and  contempt  of  an  invaluable  institution ;  but  they 
are  also  persuaded  that  for  national  deviations  fiom  right,  emanating  from  the  gov- 
ernment, a  present  national  retribution  is  to  be  apprehended,  inasmuch  as  the  fu- 
tme  reckoning  is  for  individuals,  and  not  for  states ;  and  such  public  retributory 
judgment  must  fall  upon  the  people,  and  must  be  borne  by  your  memorialists,  in 
common  with  others. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Albion,  Maine. 

The  Sabbath  a  Divine  Institution. 

Your  memorialists  consider  the  Sabbath  to  be  a  divine  institution,  its  obligation 
resting  on  the  laws  of  God,  and  its  observance  most  conducive  to  national  happi- 
ness. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Philadelphia. 

Your  memorialists  consider  the  practice  of  transporting  and  opening  the  mails  on 
the  Sabbath  contrary  to  the  b-ourtii  command  in  the  decalogue;  and  that 
the  continuance  and  increase  of  our  happiness  depend  on  our  obedience  to  the 
laws  of  God. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rowan  county.  North  Carolina. 

The  transporting  of  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath  is  an  evil  which  might  be  avoided, 
and  which  is  repugnant  to  the  express  command  of  heaven. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Ann  Arundel  county,  Maryland. 

The  practice  of  opening  the  post-offices  of  the  United  States,  on  the  Sabbath  day, 
is,  in  the  opinion  of  your  memorialists,  a  violation  of  the  divine  commandment, 
injurious  in  its  effects  on  the  public  morals,  and  unsupported  by  any  plea  of  public 
necessity,  or  convenience  ;  while  it  gives  just  offence  to  the  principles  and  feelings 
of  the  Christian  conununity. 

Petition  of   Inhabitants  of  Trenton,  New-Jersey. 

Your  memorialists  would  state  their  full  conviction,  that  these  laws  are  in  direct 
violation  of  the  laws  of  the  Great  God  whose  authority,  as  paramount  to  all  oth- 
er, we  presume  every  member  of  your  honorable  hodies  will  acknowledge;  and 
that  they  are  calculated  to  bring  his  frown  upon  us,  as  a  nation. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Elizabethtown,  JVew-Jersey. 

The  high  authority,  by  which  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath  is  enacted  ;  its  great  utility 
to  the  interests  of  religion  and  morality ;  together  with  the  salutary  effects,  which 


10 

tho  Sabbath  creates,  by  requiring  that  one  day  in  Bcven  be  observed  as  a  day  of  rest 
from  the  cares  and  toils  ol'  life  ;  are  some  of  tlie  reasons,  why,  in  our  estimation,  no 
encouragement  sliould  ha  i;iven,  at  least  by  legal  enactments,  to  the  violation  of  lias 
divine  and  important  precept. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanta  of  Chester  District,  Soutli  Carolina. 

We  urge  the  repeal  of  the  present  law,  as  it  is  an  invasion  of  the  law  of  God. 
Good  citizenship,  we  think,  requires  us  to  keep  a  conscience  not  only  '  void  of  offence 
towards  men,  but  void  of  offence  towards  God.'  As  we  are  a  Christian  nation,  and 
exult  in  tlie  honorable  distinction,  we  wish  to  show  our  regard  for  divine  laws,  and 
for  sacred  institutions,  by  keeping   the  Sabbath  holy. 

Petition  of  inhabitants  of  Winnsboro',  Fairfield  District,  South  Carolina. 

While  the  arm  of  Jehovah  is  lifted  for  our  defence,  no  enemy  can  subdue  us,  or 
impair  our  rights.  But  if  the  supreme  legislature  of  this  Union,  by  their  act,  makes 
it  necessary  to  violate  the  command  of  God,  his  justice  will  demand  that  adequate 
punishment  be  inflicted  on  our  common  country.  His  own  law  He  will  magnify 
and  make  honorable,  by  inflicting  the  sanction,  or  honoring  those  who  honor  it. 
Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Spartansburg  District,  South  Carolina. 

The  transportation  of  the  mail  is  an  unnecessary  evil,  attended  with  serious  con- 
sequences, and  a  reproach  to  the  nation ;  that  it  is  a  direct  violation  of  the  command 
of  Jehovah  to  remember  the  Sabbath  day  and  keep  it  holy  ;  that  it  disturbs  the  quiet 
enjoyment  of  that  day,  in  requiring  post-offices  to  be  opened,  and  the  mail  to  be 
conveyed  through  cities,  towns  and  villages,  in  the  hours  of  public  worship,  and 
thus  inducing  every  other  evil  connected  with  Sabbath-breaking,  a  sin,  which  has 
ever  received  the  signal  displeasure  of  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  Universe. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Lenipster,  New-Hampshire. 

We  do  humbly  appeal  to  your  honorable  body,  that  a  free,  enlightened,  and  reli- 
gious people,  may   rest  from  all  their  labors,  as  the   Lord  of  the  Sabbath  hath 

COMMANDED. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  North  Haverhill,  New-Hampshire. 

Our  opinion  is  based,  not  only  upon  the  firm  belief,  that  God  claims  that  day  for 
his  service,  but  on  a  firm  belief  that  every  nation,  which  generally  profanes  that  holy 
day  by  neglecting  to  keep  it,  does  bring  upon  itself  heavy  judgments. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia. 

Being  fully  convinced,  that  the  blessing  of  God  will  be  conferred  on  that  nation, 
which  obeys  his  laws,  and  that  punishment  will  be  inflicted  on  the  disobedient,  have, 
with  much  concern,  seen  in  the  post-office  department,  that  the  Sabbath,  a  day  which 
God  HATH  COMMANDED  TO  BE  KEPT  HOLY,  is  broken  and  profaned. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Hanover  county,  Virginia. 

We  view  with  deep  regret  the  public  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  in  transporting  and 
opening  the  mail  on  that  day.  We  regard  the  command  to  keep  the  Sabbath  holy 
binding  upon  nations,  as  well  as  individuals.  We  are  dependent  on  divine  provi- 
dence as  a  nation,  and  caimot  expect  the  blessing  of  God,  while  we  act  in  opposi- 
tion to  his  requirements. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanta  of  Westmoreland  county,  Virginia. 

Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation  and  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people,  is  a  dec- 
laration of  the  wisest  and  most  prosperous  king,  who  ever  swayed  a  sceptre  on 
earth : 

Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy,  is  a  command  of  the  King  of  kings, 
which  is  binding  upon  all  mankind  : 

Whereas  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath  is  productive 
of  much  evil  throughout  our  country  ;  and  as  many  of  our  citizens  are  required,  in 
the  discharge  of  their  offices,  to  violate  the  Sabbath  ;  Therefore,  &c. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio. 

We  believe  the  existing  law,  regulating  tlie  transportation  and  opening  of  mails 
on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  is  a  direct  violation  of  the  law  of  the  Sabbath,  or- 
dained by  the  lawgiver  of  the  Universe  ;  and  we  bel'ieve  the  tendency  to  demoral- 
ise our  great  oommunity,  and  prepare  our  beloved  country  for  the  desolating  iudg- 
luents  of  Heaven,  to  bo  alarming. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Gustavus,  Trumbull  county,  Oiiio. 


11 

Believing  that  the  Sabbath  day  has  been  appropriated  by  divine  authorily  to  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God,  your  petitioners,  having  long  and  deeply  regrelled  tlie 
interruption  of  its  sacred  dulies,  occasioned  by  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the 
mails,  earnestly  pray  you,  as  guardians  of  the  morals,  as  well  as  of  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  people,  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration. 

Petition  oi"  luliabitants  of  Alliens,  Ohio, 

Your  memorialists  beg  leave  respectfully  to  represent,  that,  regarding  the  institu- 
tion of  a  weekly  day  of  rest  as  coeval  with  the  creation  of  the  world,  when  God 
rested  from  his  great  work  of  giving  form  to  the  earth,  and  sanctified  the  Sabbath- 
day ; — and  being  assured,  that  the  institution  has  been  in  all  Christian  countries 
recognized,  and  deemed  subservient  to  both  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of 
mankind  ; — they  have  witnessed  with  great  regret,  the  open  and  increasing  violation 
of  the  Lord's  day,  by  the  transmission  of  the  mails,  under  the  direction,  or  by  tlie 
authority,  of  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Albion,  Maine. 

The  Jaw,  in  regard  to  the  Sabbath,  ought  to  be  observed,  as  we  conceive,  by  eve- 
ry people  calling  tliemstlves  Christian. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Whereas  the  Sabbath  is  appointed  to  man  and  beast  as  a  day  of  rest,  a  strict  ob- 
servance of  which  is  enjoined  in  the  Sacred  Decalogue: — 

Your  petitioners  are  fully  persuaded,  that  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the 
mail,  and  the  delivery  of  letters,  on  that  day,  is  a  violation  of  the  Fourth  Command, 
and  attended  with  much  evil,  not  only  by  detaining  many  from  a  regular  attendance 
on  public  worship,  but  by  disturbing  those,  who  arc  assembled  for  that  purpose. 

Petition  of   Inhabitants  of  Winchester,  C'oiiiieclicut. 

The  undersigned  would  respectfully  represent,  (bat  it  is  with  the  deepest  concern 
we  regard  the  regulations  of  the  posi-ofiice  department,  respecting  the  transportation 
and  ojiening  of  the  mail  on  the  Salibath.  Having  been  taught  by  our  pious  ances- 
tors, and  by  the  word  of  God,  to  regard  that  day  as  holy  time,  and  to  esteem  it  a  bles- 
sing, and  not  a  burden  to  any  people,  we  do  verily  believe  that  the  high  privileges, 
both  civil  and  religious,  which  so  conspicuously  distinguish  our  nation,  are  intimate- 
ly connected,  as  well  in  their  continuance  as  their  origin,  with  a  sacred  regard  to  that 
divine  institution.  With  these  views,  we  cannot  restrain  the  belief,  that  a  practical 
abolition  of  the  Sabbath  would  operate  as  the  most  deadly  treachery,  that  can  be  per- 
petrated ;  and  consequently  we  view  with  serious  alarm  every  measure,  however 
harmlessly  designed,  which  has  a  tendency  to  such  abolition. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Norfolk,  Connecticut. 

He  who  appointed  the  Sabbath  has  commanded  that  it  be  kept  holy ;  and  we,  who 
believe  that  his  command  is  obligatory  upon  all  mankind,  view  with  regret  what  may 
be  considered  a  profanation  of  the  day  under  authoiity  of  law. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  New-London,  Connecticut. 

The  memorialists  do  not  think  it  will  be  expected  of  them  to  reply  at  length  to  the 
arguments  used  in  defence  of  transporting  and  opening  mails  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
the  delivery  of  letters  and  newspapers  at  post-oilices,  as  the  honorable  bodies  addres- 
sed will  at  once  perceive,  that  an  entire  suspension  of  secular  business  on  that  day 
would  operate  impartially  on  the  whole  community  ;  that  experience  demonstrates 
that  the  rest  of  one  day  in  seven  conduces  alike  to  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  business 
and  to  a  healthy  moral  tone  ;  and  that  the  whole  array  of  arguments  in  favor  of 
breaking  the  Sabbath  is  answered  by  the  solemn  truth,  that  the  violations  of  this 
holy  day  are  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God,  and  detrimental  to  the  physical,  civil, 
and  moral  good  of  the  people. 

I'clilion  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of   New-York.    This   form   of  a  petition 
wag  signed  by  great  numbers  of  petitioners  in  many  parts  of  the  Union. 

Believing,  as  your  petitioners  do,  that  the  pratice  above-mentioned  is  a  direct  in- 
fringement of  the  divine  law  ;  that  its  existence  is  inconsistent  with  the  character 
and  a  reproach  to  the  name  of  a  Christian  people  ;  that  its  tendency  is  to  subvert 
the  institutions  of  religion,  by  lessening  that  respect  for  them,  which  ought  ever  to 
be  felt  and  inculcated  ;  that  it  exerts  a  ])crnicious  and  demoralizing  inniiencc  u])on  the 
community  at  large,  by  encouraging,  and,  in  effect,  inviting  their  attention  to  sec- 


12 

tilar  concerns,  on  llio  Sabbath,  to  the  neglect,  and  even  the  exclusion,  of  the  ap- 
propriate duties  of  the  day  ;  that,  as  an  open  violation  of  an  express  command  of  the 
Supreme  Lawgiver,  it  must  be  ofTensive  in  his  sight,  and  may  lead  to  such  a  general 
depravation  of  manners,  as  to  cause  him  to  withdiaw  from  us  that  abounding  good- 
ness and  favor,  which  he  has  hitherto  vouchsafed  to  us  as  a  nation  ;  and  that,  from 
all  these  considerations,  it  calls  loudly  for  correction  and  redress  ; — they  repeat  their 
most  earnest  and  respectful  request,  &c. 

Petition  of  Iiiliabitants  of  Salem,  Masa.icliusctts.    This   form  of  a  petition 
was  signed  by  Inhabitants  of  several  otlier  towns. 

But,  more  than  all,  by  these  means  an  explicit  command  of  God  is  violated,  and 
the  authority  of  the  Lawgiver  set  at  nought,  and  his  righteous  displeasure  incurred, 
not  against  the  individuals  only,  who  are  the  immediate  transgressors,  but  also 
against  the  community  and  the  government,  which  authorizes,  or  suffers  such  wick- 
edness. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts.- 

Supposed  convenience  docs  not  abrogate  a  laiv  of  God. 

It  may  be  said,  perhaps,  that  public  convenience  requires  the  rapid  transmission 
of  the  mails.  This  might  possibly  be  a  valid  excuse,  if  any  great,  or  momentous,  in- 
terests were  at  stake,  as  in  case  of  war  or  public  danger.  Our  Saviour  said.  It  is 
lawful  to  do  good  on  the  Sabbath  day;  but,  in  the  instances  by  which  he  illustrated 
his  instructions,  it  is  manifest  that  he  contemplated,  (as  it  is  in  other  places  also  explain- 
ed,) works  of  necessity  and  mercy.  It  was  not  intended,  that  the  precept  in  the  deca- 
logue should  yield  to  afibrd  commercial  facilities.  The  commandment  is,  that  in 
Six  DAYS  thou  shall  do  ALL  thy  toork. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  do  not  ivish  to  lose  the  good  influen- 
ces of  the  Sabbath. 

With  a  few  unworthy  exceptions,  were  the  question  for  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath  put  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  it  would  he  unanimously  carried  in 
the  affirmative.  AN  by  then  should  this  public  evil  of  which  we  complain,  which 
tends  to  destroy  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  to  disturb  those  who  do  ob- 
serve it,  be  supported  by  government .' 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rensselaer  county,  New-York. 

The  toleration,  or  rather  establishment,  by  the  law  of  the  land,  of  this  '•  work  and 
labor"  on  the  Sabbath,  has  long  been  deplored  by  a  vast  majority,  it  is  believed,  of 
the  Christian  community. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  St.  Lawrence  county,  New-York. 

We  believe  the  good  sense  of  a  vast  majority  of  this  nation  desires  a  suspension  of 
labor  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  as  the  other  offices  of  government  are  closed  on  the  Sab- 
bath, we  see  no  reason  wiiy  the  post-office  should  not  likewise  be  closed. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Stockbridge,  Sheffield,  and  other  towns  in  Berk- 
shire  county,  Massachusetts. 

As  a  people,  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States,  if  they  were  all  to  speak  their 
minds,  would  demand  the  ]ireservation  of  the  Sabbath.  They  have  the  deepest  in- 
terest in  demanding  it;  for  if  all  the  restraints  of  religion  were  removed,  our  nation- 
al prosperity  and  our  political  freedom  would  soon  depart,  to  return  no  more.  But 
what  could  not  be  done  directly,  and  at  once,  may  be  done  gradually,  and  too  eflec- 
tually,  if  the  Sabbath  should  be  secularized. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

The  Sabbath  recognized  by  all  the  public  bodies  in  our  coiinfry,  by  ev- 
ery department  of  government  except  the  post-office,  and  by  the 
State  Laws. 

That  the  recognition  of  the  Sabbath,  in  all  the  institutions  of  the  country,  as  is 
5hown  in  the  usages  of  congress  and  of  our  courts  of  justice,  in  the  execution  of  the  laws, 
&.C.  and  the  pcctiliar  sanction  with  which  it  is  guarded  by  our  state  laws,  induce  your 
memorialists  to  hojic  that  the  exception  to  the  general  "observance  of  a  day  of  rest, 


13 

which  is  found  in  the  post-ofBce  department,  and  which  is  but  of  recent  practice,  will 
receive  the  attention  of  congress. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Fliiladelphia. 

We  rejoice  that  the  sacred  institutions  of  religion  are  so  generally  respected  by 
the  laws  of  our  highly  fnvored  country;  yet  wc  regret  that  tlie  '  Sabbath,  which  is 
the  holy  of  the  Lord  and  honorable,'  is,  by  the  authority  of  the  rulers  of  our  nation, 
violated  in  one  important  case  ;  we  mean  the  mail  and  post-office  department. 

The  laws  of  our  happy  country,  [that  is,  the  laws  of  the  several  states,]  say,  "  JVo 
work  shall  be  done  on  the  Sabbath,  by  persons  of  any  class  ;"  yet  the  law,  to  which 
we  refer,  says,  that  "  carriers  of  mails,  postmasters,  and  c\evks,  shall  work  on  that 
holy  day." 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Bedford  county,  Tennessee. 

The  subscribers  humbly  suggest,  that  the  transportation  of  the  mail  on  the  Sab- 
bath has  an  immoral  tendency  on  the  community,  and  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God ; 
and  the  laws  of  this  State  require  a  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Kellyvale,  Vermont. 

Even  those,  in  whom  the  people  confide,  and  give  them  power  to  make  laws,  are 
liberated  from  the  necessity  of  violating  the  Sabbath.  May  we  remember  the  com- 
mand not  to  bind  burdens  on  men's  shoulders,  that  we  are  not  willing  to  bear 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Springfield,  Pennsylvania. 

The  General  Government  has  not  the  ConsiitutionahPowcr  to  authorize 
a  violation  of  the  Sabbath. 

Your  petitioners  have  long  perceived,  with  the  deepest  regret,  that  the  attempts 
of  the  state  authorities  to  enforce  the  due  observance  of  the  Sabbath  have  been  great- 
ly obstructed,  if  not  defeated,  by  persons  acting  under  authority  derived  from  the 
post-office  department.  If  the  general  government  actually  possesses  the  right  thus 
practically  to  annul  a  salutary  law  of  the  several  states,  and  one  which  is  founded  up- 
on the  Divine  command,  it  is  hoped  that  at  least  a  spirit  of  comity,  and  conciliation, 
will  prevent  its  furtlier  exercise. 

But  your  petitioners  presume,  that  no  such  right  is  claimed  by  the  national  legis- 
lature, believing,  as  they  do,  that  no  such  right  exists.  Surely  no  express  authority 
to  contravene  the  injunctions  of  the  Supreme  Lawgiver  will  be  found  in  the  nation- 
al charter  ;  and  none  is  given  by  implication,  unless  we  admit  the  preposterous  con- 
clusion, that  the  people  of  these  states,  so  highly  distinguished  by  the  favor  of  the 
Almighty,  have  intentionally  sanctioned  the  violation  of  his  laws.  Persuaded,  as 
your  petitioners  arc,  that  the  regulation  of  the  General  Post-Office,  requiring  mails 
to  be  transported  and  opened  on  the  Lord's  day,  is  alike  unnecessary  and  unauthoriz- 
ed, and  confiding  in  the  wisdom  and  piety  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  they  do 
most  respectfully  and  earnestly  intreat,  that  a  prompt  and  effectual  remedy  may  be 
provided  for  the  evil,  of  which  they,  in  common  with  all  the  reflecting  portion  of  our 
fellow  citizens,  have  so  just  reason  to  complain. 

Petition  of  JOHN  COTTON  SMITH,*  and  others,  Inhabitants  of  Sharon,  Connecticut. 

If  these  things  are  true,  have  we  not  reason  to  deprecate  the  judgments  of  heaven 
upon  our  nation,  because  of  the  extent  to  which  this  offence  is  practised,  under  the 
pretence  of  post-office  regulations,  which  are  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  the  Su- 
preme Governor,  and  to  tlic  municipal  enactinents  of  every  state  in  the  Union. 

Your  memorialists  would  respectfully  inquire,  upon  what  pretext  is  the  law  of  God 
thus  disregarded,  and  his  sovereignty  thus  insulted  ? 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of   Washington  county,    Pennsylvania,  unanimously 
adopted  at  a    public  meeting,  JOHN  HAMILTON,  Chairman. 

The  religious  freedom,  secured  by  the  constitution  to  every  citizen,  is  infringed 
by  a  law,  that  offends  the  consciences  of  multitudes,  and  exacts  from  post-masters 
and  others  services  forbidden  by  the  religion,  which  most  of  them  profess. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Bedford,  Westchester  county,  New-York. 

Wc  rejoice  in  the  principles  of  universal  religious  toleration  on  which  our  general 
government  is  founded ;  and  we  would  by  no  means  desire  that  Congress  should 

*  For  many  years  a  moniber  of  Congress,  and  sub8c<}uently  GovT>rnor  of  Counccliout. 


14 

ever  have  (lie  constitutional  power  of  ir.teifering  in  matters  of  religion.  All  that  we 
request  is,  lliiit  the  powers  of  the  government,  given  for  good  and  legitimate  ob- 
jects, should  not  he  used  to  weaken  the  iniluence  of  religion,  and  thus  deprive  us  of 
the  valuable  privileges,  transmitted  to  us  by  our  ancestors. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

The  leizal  obligations,  which  bind  us  to  the  discharge  of  what  we  regard  as  merely 
.secular  offices  on  the  Sabbath  are,  in  our  view,  an  infringement  of  that  religious 
freedom  and  equality  of  privilege,  which,  by  the  federal  constitution,  are  secured  to 
all  good  citizens. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Hudson,  Portage  county,  Ohio. 

BTotivc  of  Gratitude. 
We  would  futhermore  suggest,  that  these  United  States  have  long  enjoyed  the  pe- 
culiar smiles  of  Heaven ;  that  they  have  been  blessed  in  an  extraordinary  degree  ; 
and  that,  therefore,  gratitude  to  the  Source,  whence  all  these  blessings  flow,  should 
induce  all  to  keep  holy  the  day,  which  is  especially  set  apart  for  worshipping  the  God 
of  our  salvation. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Telfair  county,  Georgia. 

When  we  reflect  on  the  many  blessings,  with  which  our  country  has  been  crown- 
ed ; — that  wholesome  laws  have  been  enacted  ;  that  the  arts  of  peace  have  been  suc- 
cessfully cultivated  ;  and  that  the  happiness  of  the  people  of  our  nation  is  so  greatly 
promoted  ; — we  acknowledge  ilie  gratitude  we  owe  to  the  Great  Arbiter  of  Na- 
tions. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rowan  county,  North  Carolina. 

We  humbly  conceive  these  things  ought  not  so  to  be,  and  trust  that,  while  we  as  a 
nation  feel  ourselves  so  highly  indebted  to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  you,  in  your  wis- 
dom, will  say,  '  Henceforward  there  shall  be,  in  the  mail  department,  no  infringe- 
ment of  the  sacred  claims  of  the  day  of  God.' 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Bedford  county,  Tennessee. 

We,  as  a  part  of  the  civilized  world,  and  as  beings  responsible  to  God,  view,  with 
much  concern,  the  violation  of  one  of  his  commandments,  and  conciu- with  our  fellow 
petitioners,  that  the  practice  is  as  unnecessary,  as  it  is  sinful ; — that  it  is  an  infringe- 
ment of  our  religious  rights,  with  which  an  all-bountiful  Creator  has  blessed  us.  Let 
«s,  therefore,  in  some  measure  repay  the  .Author  of  all  Good,  for  the  innumerable 
favors,  that  he  has  supplied  us  with. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Morgan  county,  Virginia. 

The  undersigned  humbly,  but  earnest!}',  supplicate  your  legislative  interference  to 
prevent  the  future  commission  of  this  crying  sin,  and  thus,  as  the  representatives  of 
this  republic,  testify  your  ^ra</h<rfe  to  Jehovah,  by  whose  muniiicence  our  land  is  em- 
inently blest,  and,  at  the  same  time,  do  honor  to  yourselves,  and  avert  from  our  com- 
mon country  those  judgments,  for  which  the  sin  ol  Sabbath-breaking  so  loudly  calls. 
Petition  of  HENRY  THUllSTON,  postmaster,  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 

In  a  time  of  profound  pence,  when  no  argument  can  rest  on  the  necessity  of  speedily 
conveying  intelligence,  affecting  the  safety  of  any  portion  of  the  community  ; — in  a 
time  of  great  prosperity,  when  the  sentiment  oi gratitude  to  the  Great  Author 
of  our  unequalled  national  advantages,  should  urge  to  the  observance  of  all  institu- 
tions, which  have  any  relation  to  His  honor,  and  to  the  moral  benefit  of  His  rational 
offspring ; — the  conveyance  of  the  mails,  on  the  Sabbath,  is,  in  the  opinion  of  your 
memorialists,  doubly  offensive  in  the  sight  of  Him,  who  averts  from  us  the  calanrities 
of  foreign  war,  and  the  greater  calamity  of  domestic  discord,  and  without  whose 
protectioii  and  benediction,  the  prosperous  state  of  our  affairs  would  be  succeeded  by 
turbulence  and  misery,  and  our  national  greatness  would  dwindle  away  and    perish. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Albion,  Maine, 

It  ought  to  be  remembered,  that  there  is  no  nation  on   the  globe  under  so  many 
ohligalions  of  grntito.de  as  this.     Our  civil  and  religious  freedom, —  our  social  insti- 
tutions,— our  constantly  advancing  prosperity, — all  demand  the  homage  of  our  praise. 
Petition   of  Inhnbitanti!   of  VVnsbington   county,  Pennsylvuiiia,  unanimously 
«iloptcil  at  a  iniblic  meeting,  JOHtU  HAMILTON,  Chairman. 


15 

The  Sabbath  necessary  to  Civil  Liberty  and  National  Prosperity. 

It  is  admitted  that  virtue  is  essential  to  the  existence  of  a  free  government,  and 
civil  institutions  ;  that  dissipation  of  morals,  if  it  become  general,  would  soon  shake 
the  foundation  of  our  national  cdilice  and  sweep  away  our  civil  privileges.  As  the 
Sabbath  is  the  grand  instrument  of  giving  tone  and  elevation  to  morals,  its  strict 
observance  we  regard  as  all-important  ^o  sustain  the  civil  liberties  of  our  country. 
Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Wiiinsboro',  Fairfield  District,  South  Carolina. 

Your  memorialists  would  beg  leave  to  suggest,  that  the  stahility  and  prosperity, 
of  our  happy  government  depend,  in  a  great  measure,  on  the  intelligence,  morality, 
and  virtue  of  the  people  ;  that  religion  exalteth  a  nation  ;  that  sin  is  a  reproach  to 
any  people  ;  and  that  it  is  the  direct  way  to  call  down  the  vengeance  of  heaven, 
when  human  laws  are  made  to  violate  the  laws  of  God. 

Petition  of  the  P.  M.  at  Otter  Bridge,  Oodford  county,  Virginia,  and  of  Citizens  adjacent  thereto. 

The  undersigned  take  the  practice  complained  of  to  be  contrary  to  sound  policy, 
which  dictates  that  civil  liberty  and  Christian  morals  stand  or  fall  together.  We  be- 
lieve, that  on  a  strict  observance  of  the  Sabbath  the  existence  of  Christian  morals,  in 
a  great  measure,  depends. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Tallmadge,  Portage  county,  Ohio. 

We  appreciate  highly  not  only  the  civil  but  the  religious  privileges  for  which  our 
fathers  bled  ;  and  wliich,  dying,  they  bequeathed  as  their  best  legacy  to  us.  Among 
these  privileges  we  regard  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  the  Sabbath  as  preeminently  valua- 
ble. Nor  can  we  believe,  that  the  desecration  of  this  day  by  the  transportation  of 
mails,  the  delivery  of  letters,  &c.  is  necessary,  either  for  the  safety,  or  the  high- 
est permanent  prosperity,  of  the  people. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Hudson,  Portage  county,  Ohio. 

We  regard  the  institutions  of  religion  as  important  means  of  promoting  that  piety 
and  virtue,  on  which  the  security  of  our  rights  and  liberties  chiefly  depends  ;  and 
we  cannot  but  hope,  that  the  sanction  of  government  will  not  be  given  to  measures, 
which  threaten  to  impair  their  salutary  influence. 

Petition  of  WILLIAM  E.  CllANNlNG  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

Your  memorialists  would  respectfully  remind  your  honorable  bodies,  that  the 
whole  current  of  history  and  observation  is  in  favor  of  the  influence  of  the  Sabbath 
upon  the  temporal  prosperity  of  communities ;  that  wherever  this  day  has  been 
consecrafed  to  religious  instruction,  and  to  the  duties  of  public  and  private  worship, 
the  people  have  been  distinguished  for  industry,  peaceable  habits,  and  especially  for 
that  intelligence  and  personal  virtue,  that  sense  of  justice,  of  individual  rights,  and 
of  the  responsibility  of  rulers  and  private  men  to  the  Sovereign  Ruler  of  all,  which 
are  essential  to  the  existence  of  a  free  government. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

Yottr  memorialists  represent,  that  the  proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath, — is  no 
less  a  matter  of  sound  polici/,  than  of  true  piety ; — that  good  and  pious  men  are 
scandalized  by  the  growing  disregard  of  such  wise  observance  ; — and  that  the  trans- 
portation and  opening  of  the  mails  on  that  day  have  a  direct  tendency  to  destroy,  in 
the  minds  of  men,  that  piety  and  morality,  so  necessary  to  be  cherished  by  a  Re- 
publican People. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Perry  County,  Ohio. 

The  undersigned,  deeply  solicitous  for  the  welfare  of  our  beloved  country,  and 
for  the  continued  enjoyment  and  higher  ])ossession  of  that  liberty,  which  constitutes 
her  most  distinguished  characteristic,  and  fully  believing  that  an  encouragement  to 
the  due  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  in  all  the  laws  of  our  land,  is  essen- 
tial to  the  proper  security  of  her  liberties,  beg  leave  to  present  the  following  memo- 
rial, respectfully  and  earnestly  soliciting  your  attention,  as  the  constituted  guardians 
of  our  republic,  to  what  we  consider  as  an  evil,  tending  to  the  subversion  of  her 
freedom,  her  interests,  and  her  happiness  ;  besides  operating,  in  some  measure  at 
least,  as  a  present  infringement  upon  the  liberties  of  a  portion  of  our  fellow  citizens. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Atwater,  Portage  County,  Ohio. 

The  observance  of  the  commandment  of  God  to  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  Day,  we 
consider  as  necessary  to  national  as  to  individual  prosperity. 

Petition  of  IB.A  DAVID,  Postmaster,  and  otiiers,  Inhabitants  of  the  State  of  Vermont. 


16 

We  believe  those  practices  to  be  injurious  to  the  morals  of  a  free  people,  and  dan- 
gerous in  their  influence  on  the  civil  institutions  of  our  country;  that,  in  a  Christian 
land,  where  the  government  of  God  is  recognized,  the  observance  of  this  day  should 
beheld  sacred,  and  that  the  extensive  violation  of  it,  involves  the  destruction  of  civil 
liberty,  and  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God,  and  detrimental  to  the  physical,  civil,  and 

moral  good  of  the  people. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Huntingdon  County,  Pennsylvania. 

We  believe  morality  and  religion  to  be  essential  to  the  welfare  of  our  republic  ; 
and  that  neither  of  them  can  remain  secure,  without  a  due  observance  of  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Lisbon,  Connecticut. 

We  are  fully  assured,  that  the  same  dependence  on  the  God  of  nations,  which  em- 
boldened our  fathers  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the  parent  country,  and  which 
supported  them  amidst  the  perils  and  toils  of  the  revolutionary  struggle,  is  our  only 
security  for  perpetuating  those  unparalleled  privileges,  which  they  obtained  for  us, 
at  the  expense  of  so  much  treasure  and  blood.  That  righteousness  exalteth  a  na- 
tion, is  a  maxim,  written  as  legibly  on  the  pages  of  the  history  of  nations  as  on  the 
pages  of  the  inspired  volume,  and  from  this  consideration  we  must  respectfully  and 
earnestly  solicit  your  honorable  body  to  direct  the  ti'ansportation  of  the  mail  to  be 
suspended  on  the  Lord's  day,  which  necessarily  involves  so  many  of  our  fellow-citi- 
zens in  the  violation  of  that  holy  time. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Salem,  Washington  county,  New  York. 

Deeming  the  institution  of  the  holy  Sabbath  as  a  day  of  rest,  and  of  public  and 
private  worship,  in  the  highest  degree  essential  to  the  preservation  of  Christianity 
amongst  us,  and  the  prevalence  of  our  holy  religion  essential  to  our  national  well- 
being, — it  is  a  matter  deeply  affecting  us  and  our  children.  In  this  point  of  view 
we  have  long  felt,  that  the  transmission  of  the  United  States  mail  is  an  unnecessary 
and  alarming  infringement  on  the  commandment  of  God. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Le  Roy,  New  York. 

The  Sabbath  a  Great  Blessing,  and  its  loss  an  Incalculable  Evil. 

The  good  sense  of  nations  has  taught  them,  that  the  restraints  imposed  by  religion 
are  all  necessary  to  curb  the  passions  and  regulate  the  morals  of  society.  By  the 
Sabbath  an  opportunity  is  afforded  to  ministers  to  preach — to  the  people  generally  to 
hear  the  precepts  of  religion — and  all  to  worship  God.  The  Sabbath  and  its  institu- 
tions seem  to  be  appointed  for,  and  admirably  adapted  to,  preparing  the  human  fam- 
ily for  a  future  state  of  being. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Greersburgh,  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

We  deem  the  Christian  Sabbath  a  blessing  to  mankind ; — a  most  effectual  purifier 
of  the  public  morals,  enlightener  of  the  public  mind,  guardian  of  the  public  safety, 
and  promoter  of  public  prosperity;  that,  therefore,  its  due  observance,  according  to 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  will  call  forth  divine  favor  upon  the  nation,  whilst,  on  tlie  other 
liand,  its  profanation  must  be  followed  by  expressions  of  divine  wrath. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Nortliumberland  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Who  does  not  know  what  darkness  and  degradation  would  succeed  a  universal  dis- 
regard of  the  Sabbath  ?  Let  the  Sabbath  be  banished  from  our  country,  and  our 
light  and  privileges  would  begin  to  wane,  and  continue  to  wane,  until  not  a  trace  of 
them  would  be  left  behind. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Rensselaer  county,  New- York. 

We  would  hope,  too,  that  the  members  of  our  government,  by  their  conspicuous 
example,  in  this  regard,  by  their  cogent  arguments  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  and  by 
their  manifestation  of  a  sacred  regard  for  the  Sabbath,  in  all  the  arrangements  of  bu- 
siness at  the  seat  of  government,  in  the  army  and  the  navy,  in  all  the  public  otfices, 
and  upon  the  highways  of  our  land,  will  exert  a  powerful  influence  in  checking  the 
inimoralitics  named,  and  in  protecting  an  institution  which  is  more  elficacious  inper- 
pettialing  the  blessings  of  a  free  government,  than  the  best  laws  ever  framed  by  the 
wisdom  of  man. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New  York. 


17 

The  Sabbath  a  temporal  benefit. 

Your  memoilali-ts  would  represent  tluit  in  the  rest  from  labor,  which  the  Sabbath 
enjoins,  the  comfort  and  health  of  man  are  jtromoted ;  and  by  the  devotion  of  a 
set  time  to  the  contemplation  of  our  condition  as  moral  and  responsible  beings,  the 
virtue  and  intclliu;ence  of  the  community  are  most  certainly  advanced,  and  thereby 
the  prosperity  and  liberties  of  the  country  secured. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

Without  entering  at  all  into  the  imperative  nature  of  the  obligation,  which  re- 
quires of  Christians  to  observe  this  day  as  sacredly  set  apart  and  appropriated  to  re- 
ligious observances,  we  may  urge,  in  favor  of  the  prayer  of  the  memorialists,  the 
general  usefulness  of  the  institution  ; — a  fact  attested  by  common  observation,  and 
universally  admitted  by  persons  of  every  religious  persuasion.  A  proper  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  greatly  tends  to  promote  and  strengthen  moral  habits,  and,  in  a  vari- 
ety of  ways,  to  better  the  general  condition  of  society  ;  and,  unquestionably,  the 
promotion  of  these  objects  is,  or  ought  to  be,  the  s;reat  end  of  human  les^islation. 

Petition  of  Merchants  of  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

The  experience  of  individuals  proves,  that  it  is  their  true  interest  to  obey  the  di- 
vine precept,  and  rest  from  business  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  we  are  fully  persuaded 
that  the  national  welfare  will  be  promoted  by  discontinuing  the  practice  of  trans- 
porting and  opening  mails,  and  delivering  letters,  on  that  day. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Washington  county,  Maryland. 

Your  memorialists  regard  the  institution  of  the  Sabbath,  as  one  of  the  most  strik- 
ing proofs  of  the  divine  beneficence,  and  as  affording  the  only  adequate  means  for 
preserving  the  fear  of  God,  the  sanctity  of  oaths,  genuine  personal  integrity,  the 
public  morals,  and  our  civil  and  political  privileges.  Though  there  are  too  many  in 
our  land,  who  practically  disregard  the  Sabbath,  yet,  it  is  believed  there  are  few, 
who  would  willingly  see  that  sacred  day  abolished. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  tlie  city  of  Boston. 

The  practice  complained  of  injurious  to  morals. 
The  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mail,  and  the  delivery  of  letters  and  newspa- 
pers from  post-offices  on  the  Lord's  day,  are  practices  injurious  to  the  morals  And  to 
the  civil  and  religious  institutions  of  our  country. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Boonsboro'  and  tho  Vicinity,  Washington  county,  Maryland. 

Your  memorialists  would  state,  that  the  laws,  which  require  the  opening  of  post- 
offices,  &c.  on  the  Sabbath,  have,  in  their  influence,  an  exceedingly  demoralizing 
effect  upon  the  community  ;  and  that  they  are  contrary  to  the  feelings  of  a  large  and 
Increasing  portion  of  this  nation. 

Petition  of  Inliabitanta  of  Eliz.abothlown,  New-Jersey. 

The  undersigned  cannot  but  regard  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mails  on 
the  Lord's  day  as  injurious  to  the  morals  of  tho  community,  and  as  a  violation  of 
that  rest,  which  all,  who  recognise  the  authority  of  the  New  Testament,  not  only  feel 
it  their  duty  to  observe,  but  the  observance  of  which  they  consider  a  glorious  privi- 
lege. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Spotsylvania  county,Virginia. 

Human  passions  are  quite  sufficient,  of  themselves,  without  any.  legal  pretext  or 
encouragement,  to  cause  many  more  violations  of  the  Sabbath,  than  human  laws  can 
prevent. 

Petition  of  JAMES  M.  GARNETT,  and  otliors,  inhabitants  of  Virginia. 

The  undersigned  have,  for  a  long  time,  viewed  with  sorrow  the  demoralizing  effect 
produced  by  the  transportation  anil  opening  of  the  mail  on  tho  Sabbath,  as  well  in 
this  county,  as  in  other  parts. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Accomao  county,  Virginia. 

Your  petitioners,  believing  the  profanation  of  the  Sabbalh  a  general  and  growing 
evil  in  our  happy  country,  and  fully  persuaded  that  this  evil  is  perpetuated  by  the 
transportation  and  opening  of  tho  public  mails  on  that  day, — lnmil)ly  pray,  that  you, 
who  are,  under  Providence,  intrusted  with  the  affairs  of  our  nation,  &,c. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Edingburgh,  Ohia 

We  believe  the  transportation  of  the  mails,  and  the  opening  of  post-offices,  on  the 


18 

.Sabb'.ifh,  to  be  entirely  unnecessary;  and,  if  so,  a  profanation  of  this  sacred  day; 
tliat,  in  many  cases,  these  practices  disturb  the  religious  exercises  of  whole  comrau- 
nitie'f ,  tempt  ptoplc  to  the  same  sin,  and  constitute  a  serious  obstacle,  in  the  way  of 
relii^ious  instruction  and  moral  reformation. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Your  memorialists  feel  corifident,  that  the  practice  complainedof  has  a  demoralizing 

influence  upon  the  community  ;  and  that  it  can  with  ease  and  safety  be  dispensed 

with.  „    , 

Petition  of  NICHOLAS  LANSING  and  others,  Inhabitants  of  Tappan,  New  York. 

Your  memorialists  beg  leave  respectfully  to  represent — That  the  transportation 
and  opening  of  mails,  and  the  delivery  of  letters  and  newspapers  from  post-offices, 
ou  the  Lord's  day,  are  practices  injurious  to  the  morals,  and  consequently  danger- 
ous in  their  influence  upon  the  civil  institutions  of  this  country. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

Your  memorialists  are  fully  convinced,  that  the  transportation  of  the  mail  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  the  ojiening  of  JPost-Offices  on  that  day,  operate  constantly  and  power- 
fully to  bring  the  Sabbath  itself  into  neglect  and  contempt ;  that  these  causes  are 
more  difficult  to  be  limited  and  counteracted  by  the  true  friends  of  their  Country,  than 
any  other,  if  not  than  all  other,  causes  combined  ;  and  that  no  remedy  can  be  found,  un- 
less the  national  authority  sliall  interpose  to  correct  the  evil. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

The  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  by  the  running  of  the  mail-stages  on  that  day,  is 
considered  by  all  pious  and  rellecting  persons  as  an  insult  to  Almighty  God,  and  as 
likely  to  produce  a  great  corruption  of  public  morals,  unless  the  practice  is  speedily 
reformed. 

Petition  of  the  Grand  Jury  of  Washington  county, Pennsylvania, 
signed  byG.  P.  PLUMMEE,  Foreman,  and  the  otlier  Jurymen. 

The  evil  complained  of  alarming. 

Your  petitioners  deem  it  unnecessary  to  repeat  the  arguments  and  motives,  so 
forcibly  urged  in  the  New  York  memorial,  for  the  suppression  of  a  practice,  which 
has  become  most  alarming  in  its  extent ;  and  which,  if  suffered  to  continue,  must, 
as  they  verily  believe,  draw  down  the  sorest  visitations  of  Heaven  upon  our  country. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Sharon,  Connecticut. 

Your  memorialists  have  witnessed  this  increasing  immorality  with  deep  regret 
and  solicitude,  and  they  are  constrained  to  believe  that  it  is  in  vain  for  the  friends  of 
good  order  to  attempt  to  protect  this  holy  day  from  desecration,  while  the  govern- 
ment allows  the  mails  to  be  cariied  on  Sundays,  and  requires  the  post-maslers  to 
deliver  letters,  papers,  and  packets  "  on  every  day  of  the  week."  We  feel  that  we 
have  a  right  to  look  to  the  government  of  our  country  for  example  ;  and  that  those, 
whom  the  people  have  clothed  with  power,  will  not  permit  a  practice  which  is  con- 
tinually undermining  the  morals,  and  consequentl}'  endangering  the  liberties,  of  the 
nation. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New  Yoik. 

The  undersigned  would  respectfully  represent,  that  the  transportation  of  the  mail 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  the  opening  of  the  post-offices  on  that  day  are  great  public 
evils,  in  no  sense  necessaiy,  and  not  counterbalanced  by  any  supposed  convenience 
arising  from  them. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

A  disregard  of  the  Sabbath  a  public  offence  and  an  inroad  to  crimes. 
Your  memorialists  believe,  with  the  celebrated  Blackstone,  that  the  profanation  of 
the  Lord's  day  is  an  offence  against  God  and  religion. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Trenton,  New  York. 

Your  memorialists  beg  leave  also  to  appeal  to  your  own  observation,  as  statesmen 
and  legislators,  to  sustain  us  when  we  assert,  that  the  disregard  and  breach  of  the 
Fourth  Commandment  is  generally  the  first  inroad  to  crime  ;  and  that  moral  delin- 
quency, in  any  country,  increases  in  a  ratio  with  the  profanation  of  the  day. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 


19 

The  present  i^cgulations  a  JiardsJiip,  as  it  respects  postmasters,  mail 

carriers,  ^-c. 

When  we  reflect  on  the  number  of  persons  employed  in  discharging  Ihe  various 
duties  relative  to  post-otlices,  such  as  postmasters,  deputies,  clerks,  mail-carriers, 
&c.  we  cannot  but  regret  that  the  subject  has  not,  long  since,  met  the  attention  of 
the  American  public. 

We  heartily  concur  in  the  efforts,  which  arc  making,  to  restore  to  postmasters, 
&c.  a  privilege,  which,  under  the  present  regulations,  is  denied  to  them  ; — we  mean 
the  privilege  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  whicii  we  believe  it  to  be  the  right  of  every 
person  in  America  to  enjoy. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Wasliington  county,  Alabama. 

Those  citizens,  [postmasters,  &c.]  are  compelled  to  folloio  their  daily  vocation, 
in  violation  of  the  law  of  God,  while  all  other  citizens  are,  by  the  laws  of  God  as 
well  as  of  man,  especially  forbidden  thus  to  violate  that  consecrated  day. 

Petition  of  luliabitants  of  Telfair  county,  Georgia. 

While  every  other  grade  and  order  of  the  people  of  this  Union  are  permitted  a 
cessation  from  toil  during  the  Salibath,  yet  the  persons  engaged  in  this  national  affair, 
[the  post-ollice  department,]  are  compelled  to  drive  on  without  intermission. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Callaway  county,  Kentucky. 

We  pray  your  honorable  body  so  to  change  the  laws  regulating  the  post-office  es- 
tablishment, as,  in  time  of  peace,  (at  all  events,)  to  prohibit  the  transporting  of 
mails  and  the  oi)Ciiing  of  post-offices  on  the  Sabbath,  and  thereby  afford  to  that  por- 
tion of  our  fellow  citizens,  [postmasters,  &c.]  the  enjoyment  of  this  rest,  which  is  a 
privilege  guaranteed  to  every  human  being  by  the  laws  of  God. 

Petition  of  Inhabitan<t3  of  Washington  county,  Kentucky. 

Your  memorialists  would  urge,  that  nothing  short  of  inevitable  necessity  can  jus- 
tify the  imposition  of  such  labors  upon  so  many  officers  throughout  the  Union — an 
imposition,  which  is  extended  to  no  other  body  of  men  in  our  country. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Elkton,  Todd  county,  Kentucky. 

The  attention,  which  postmasters  and  their  clerks  are  obliged  to  pay  to  their  re- 
spective offices  on  the  Sabbath,  is  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  God  and  our  country. 
All  other  officers  of  our  government  are  exempt  from  performing  labor  on  that  day. 
Petition  of  Inhabitants  in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Tirzah  post-office,  North  Carolina. 

The  petitioners  regret  exceedingly  the  existence  of  a  law  requiring  the  transport- 
ation and  opening  of  mails  and  the  delivery  of  letters  on  the  Sabbath  day.  By  this 
law  a  large  and  respectable  body  of  our  fellow  citizens  are  deprived  of  an  opportu- 
nity of  necessary  repose  from  their  daily  avocations,  and  are  likewise  prevented  the 
use  of  the  customary  means  of  spiritual  and  intellectual  improvement. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Kent  Island,  Uueen  Ann'a  county,  Maryland. 

It  will,  moreover,  be  admitted,  that,  in  no  department  under  the  direction  of  the 
general  government,  is  it  more  necessary  that  the  agents  employed  shouKl  possess 
the  highest  degree  of  moral  feeling,  and  the  strictest  integrity,  than  in  the  ])Ost-office 
establishment.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  yvise  in  the  government,  to  deprive,  by  its 
ovm  regulations,  those,  who  arc  charged  with  the  important  trusts  of  this  depart- 
ment, of  those  means  and  opportunities  for  social  and  religious  improvement,  which 
are,  by  common  consent,  acknowledged  so  eminently  to  contribute  to  the  know- 
ledge and  practice  of  all  the  moral  duties. 

Petition  of  Merchants  of  Baltimore. 

An  arrangement  of  the  kind  suggested  would  very  much  meliorate  the  situation 
of  deputy  postmasters  throughout  the  Union,  by  guaranteeing  to  them  the  privilege, 
common  to  every  other  citizen,  of  spending  the  Sabbath  in  the  public  worship  of 
their  God,  or  in  retirement  and  rest. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Washington  county,  Maryland. 

Yotu'  memorialists  are  not  aware  of  any  reasons,  which  can  recommend  this  de- 
parture from  the  practice  of  the  government,  in  regard  to  all  the  other  public 
offices.  It  did  not  prevail,  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  reptiblic,  and  was  not  adopted, 
it  is  believed,  in  consequence  of  representations  from  those,  whose  interest,  or  con- 
venience, is  supposed  to  be  promoted  by  it.  If  such,  however,  were  the  fact,  it 
would  bo  partial  in  its  operation,  giving  an  advantage  to  some  over  a  largo  portion  of 


20 

the  community,  who  are  restrained  hy  conscientious  motives  from  a  participation  hi  it. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

A  large  body  of  our  best  and  most  respectable  citizens  have  long  considered  the 
transporting  and  opening  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath  a  serious  grievance  ;  and  that  por- 
tion of  our  citizens,  whose  business  it  is,  by  law,  to  attend  to  the  labors  of  the  post- 
office  on  the  Sabbath,  are  doomed  to  such  unequal  burdens  and  privations,  as 
should  not  be  exacted  from  any  portion  of  our  citizens. 

Petition  of  Inhabitiiuta  of  Chester  District,  South  Carolina. 

Justice,  in  behalf  of  a  numerous,  influential,  and  valuable  class  of  public  officers, 
pleads  for  an  exemption  from  official  duties  on  the  Lord's  day.  Some,  from  an  un- 
tiring attention  to  the  duties  of  their  office,  on  the  Sabbath  day,  have  not  been  to 
the  house  of  God  for  years. 

Again,  such  a  regulation,  as  your  memorialists  ask  for,  would  promote  the  general 
interests  of  the  mail  department,  in  the  best  possible  manner.  It  would  invite  many 
to  act  as  postmasters,  and  to  serve  as  carriers,  who  are  now  effectually  barred  from 
those  places,  by  the  fear  of  offending  God. 

Petition  of  Inliabitants  of  Spartansburg  District,  South  Carolina. 

Having  long  been  impressed  with  the  evil  and  impropriety  of  the  transportation 
and  opening  of  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath,  we,  your  memorialists  do  pray,  that,  during 
the  present  session,  a  law  may  be  passed  to  guarantee  to  j)ostmasters  and  their 
clerks  those  privileges,  which  are  enjoyed  by  all  the  other  officers  under  govern- 
ment, and  which,  by  the  laws  of  God,  are  not  denied  to  any  human  being. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Blairsville  and  vicinity,  Yorlc  District,  South  Carolina. 

Whereas  the  transporting  and  opening  of  the  mail,  and  the  delivery  of  letters  on 
the  Sabbath,  are  believed  to  be  a  violation  of  the  holy  rest  required  on  that  day, 
which  not  only  deprives  postmasters  of  the  privileges  of  the  Sabbath  ;  but,  in  many 
places,  disturbs  the  peace  and  quietude  and  devotion  of  others ;  and 

Whereas  all  other  offices  under  government  are  closed,  and  no  body  of  men  are 
required  by  law  to  work  for  others,  as  postmasters  are,  on  that  day : 

Your  memorialists  respectfully  petition  your  honorable  body,  &c. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  East  Gilraanton,  New  Hampshire. 

By  the  present  practice,  many  thousands  of  our  citizens  are  engaged  on  the  Sab- 
hath,  as  on  other  days,  and  many  pious  Christians  are  disturbed  in  their  religious 
exercises. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Greenville,  Augusta  county,  Virginia. 

In  all  Christian  countries  the  Sabbath  is  a  day  of  rest  and  set  apart  for  religious 
worship ;  and  your  memorialists  can  see  no  necessity,  especially  in  time  of  peace, 
for  profaning  it,  by  keeping  at  labor  so  many  persons,  as  the  post-otiice  department 
requires.  Besides,  all  the  other  offices  under  government  are  closed  on  that  day ; 
and  it  seems  uni-easonable,  that  the  post-office  alone  should  be  kept  open. 

Petition  of  AUGUSTUS  FITSHUGH  and  others,  citizens  of  King  George  county,  Virginia. 

T!ie  undersigned  represent  that  the  mail  passes  through  this  neighborhood  on'the 
Sabbath,  which  causes  very  great  inconvenience  to  the  different  postmasters  on  the 
aforesaid  route,  being  five  in  number,  so  that  themselves  or  clerks  must  be  deprived 
of  attending  divine  worship,  on  the  day  set  apart  for  the  purpose. 

Petition  of  Postmasters  and  others,  inhabitants  of  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania. 

We  verily  believe,  that  these  things  constitute  a  violation  of  the  Sabbath  wound- 
ing to  the  virtuous  feelings  of  a  very  large  portion  of  the  community,  in  all  parts  of 
our  land,  embracing  most  of  those,  who  are  connected  with  the  various  denomina- 
tions of  Ctirislians  in  our  country,  and  operating  very  injuriously  upon  the  interests 
and  ris;hts  of  all  who  are  employed  in  the  trans|)ortalion  of  the  mail,  and  in  the 
post-offices,  depriving  them  of  the  liberty  of  enjoying  the  Christian  Sabbath,  as  a 
day  of  rest. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Atwater,  Portage  county,  Ohio. 

By  the  recent  report  of  the  Postmaster  General,  we  perceive  that  the  services  of 
about  27,000  persons  arc  put  in  requisition,  in  the  various  branches  of  this  depart- 
c  1"J'  u*^  '""^^^  proportion  of  these  are  compelled  to  attend  this  brisiness  on  the 
Sabbath,  or  resign  their  posts.     In  addition  to  the  personal  hardship  and  injury  to 


21 

these  individuals,  their  example,  dispersed  as  they  arc  (liroughout  the  nation,  and 
acting  under  the  high  sanction  of  government,  must  be  very  baleful.  We  see  no 
cause  to  justify  this  arrangement;  for  the  plea  of  necessity  appears  no  more  spe- 
cious than  in  the  case  of  men's  common  avocations.  By  the  Sabbath  labors  of  these 
many  thousands  of  men,  we  have  our  letters  occasionally  a  day  or  two  sooner. 
Similar  calculations  might  be  made  of  the  results  of  labor,  in  any  other  useful  occu- 
pation. We  are  therefore  compelled  to  consider  (his  in  the  light  of  a  great  national 
sin  against  the  God  of  all  our  mercies,  for  which  we  have  reason  to  fear  his  right- 
eous indignation.  We  are  unwilling  thus  to  be  accommodated,  in  violation  of  the 
laws  of  God,  and  to  the  prejudice  of  the  best  interests  of  our  beloved  country. 

We  also  apprehend,  that  the  present  regulations  have  a  direct  tendency  to  con- 
sign the  very  responsible  charge  of  the  mail  to  the  hands  of  men,  who  fear  not  God, 
nor  regard  moral  obligation.  Already  has  the  mail  been  frequently  plundered,  by 
those  to  whom  it  was  confided. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Norfolk,  Connecticut. 

The  evil  spreads  far  beyond  the  persons  employed  in  the  Post-Office 

Department. 

While  the  mails  are  transported  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  there  will  be  much 
unnecessary  travelling,  the  post-offices  will  be  opened,  the  news-rooms  thronged, 
workmen  employed  in  printing-offices,  expresses  sent  in  various  directions,  and  the 
attention  of  large  portions  of  the  community  withdrawn  from  a  becoming  reverence 
of  the  day,  to  be  occupied  with  secular  concerns.  Your  memorialists  deem  it  un- 
necessary to  urge  upon  the  congress  of  the  United  States  the  obligation  of  observing 
the  Lord's  day,  of  protecting  the  people  in  their  religious  privileges,  and  of  the  bane-  ' 
ful  consequences  of  practices  which,  under  the  sanction  of  government,  is  an  apology 
for  every  other  violation  of  the  Sabbath  by  individuals.  They  may,  however,  be 
permitted  to  state",  that  the  government  of  God  is  recognized  in  this  Christian  land  ; 
that  the  observance  of  the  Lord's  day  is  enjoined  by  divine  authority,  and  that  histo- 
ry furnishes  abundant  evidence  that  a  general  disregard  of  it  involves  the  destruction 
of  civil  liberty. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanti  of  the  city  of  New-York. 

The  subscribers  have  long  witnessed  with  regret  the  profanation  of  the  Lord's  day 
by  the  transportation  of  the  mail. 

The  thoughtless,  who  are  always  too  careless  of  improving  sacred  time,  are  tempt- 
ed ;  the  pious  are  grieved  ;  travellers  in  stages  must  forego  the  privileges  of  the 
sanctuary,  or  lose  their  passage ;  innkeepers  and  villages  are  disturbed  by  the  arri- 
val of  the  mail. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Ryegate,  Vermont. 

The  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mail,  and  the  delivery  of  letters  on  the  Sab- 
bath, are  viewed  by  your  memorialists  as  an  evil  tending  to  the  neglect  of  an  institu- 
tion, (he  observance  of  which  is  necessary  to  permanent  good  order  and  morality, 
and,  of  course,  to  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the  people; — an  evil  tending  to  en- 
courage travelling  and  the  transportation  of  merchandize  on  the  Sabbath,  insomuch 
that,  in  many  places,  the  worshippers  of  God  are  greatly  annoyed,  in  passing  to  and 
from  their  places  of  worship  ; — and  tending,  moreover,  to  draw  down  upon  our  be- 
loved country  the  judgments  of  Heaven. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 

The  number  of  persons  connected  with  (he  post-office  establishment  is  very  great, 
and  annually  increasing.  The  number  of  those,  who  are  indirectly  affected  by  that 
establishment,  is  still  greater  ;  and  the  consequences  of  a  violation  of  the  Sabbath 
by  its  officers  and  agents  are  felt  by  a  very  large  portion  of  the  community. 

Petition  ul'Inliabitants  of  tlic  city  of  Boston. 

Inconvenience  of  the  mail  resting  on  the  Sabbath  is  but  small. 

As  merchants,  we  are,  perhaps,  more  interested  in  the  facilities  afforded  by  the 
mail,  than  any  other  members  of  the  community.  We  believe  (hat  the  inconvenien- 
ces, which  would  result  from  the  regulahons  prayed  for,  would  be  very  inconsidera- 
ble ;  and  were  (hey  greater  than  we  anticipate,  we  are  sm-e  they  would  be  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  the  benefits,  which  would  accrue  to  the  community,  from  a  due 
observance  of  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  mercbauts  of  Baltimore. 


22 

'  After  duly  reflecting  on  the  subject,  your  memorialists  arc  decidedly  of  the  opinion, 
that  nu  inconvenience,  or  disadvantage,  would  result  to  their  neighborhood  from  a 
discoutinuaucc  of  the  mails  on  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  lahabitanls  of  Wasliington  county,  Maryland. 

The  post-office  in  London  is  never  opened  on  Sundays,  and  there  seems  to  us  no 
necessity  that  post-olBces  in  this  country  should  be  opened  on  that  day,  especially  in 
time  of  peace. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Caroline  county,  Maryland. 

In  London,  the  greatest  commercial  city  in  the  world,  the,  post-office  is  not 
opened,  nor  any  mail  made  up,  on  Sunday ;  from  which  it  may  be  inferred,  that  it  is 
7iot  necessary  for  the  convenience  of  the  mercantile  public. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanta  of  Trenton,  New-Jersey. 

The  undersigned  are  free  to  admit,  that  occasions  may  exist,  which,  coming  with- 
in the  exceptions  permitted  by  divine  authority,  would  warrant  a  relaxation  of  the 
general  inhibition  of  labor  on  the  Sabbath;  but  none  such  have  arisen,  or  are  likely 
to  arise,  in  a  state  of  peace ;  and  they  are  informed,  that  an  example,  at  once  in- 
structive and  salutary,  is  ofTered  in  the  city  of  London,  the  metropolis  of  the  great- 
est commercial  nation  in  the  world. 

Petition  of  Inliabitantg  of  Virginia,  presented  by  Hon.  J.  S.  BARBOUR. 

We  can  see  but  Utile  advantage  arising  to  society  at  large,  from  transporting  and 
opening  mails  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  that  this  practice  is  a  great  evil  is  acknowledged 
by  many,  who  are  engaged  in  it,  and  felt  deeply  by  others. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanta  of  Coshocton,  Ohio. 

Hitherto  the  mail  has  been  conveyed  on  the  main  route  from  Utica  to  Sackett's 
Harbour  but  six  times  a  week  ;  and,  in  stating  our  opinions  we  are  confident,  from 
an  interchange  of  sentiments  with  others,  many  of  whom  are  men  of  business,  in- 
fluence, and  respectability,  in  this  part  of  the  country,  that  no  inconvenience  has 
lieen  experienced  from  this  arrangement.  We  deeply  regret  to  hear,  that  contracts 
iiave  been  made  for  its  future  transportation  on  the  Sabbath. 

Petition  of  HIRAM  STEELE  and  others,  Inhabitants  of  Sackett's  Harbour,  N.  Y. 

The  example  of  the  first  commercial  city  in  Europe,  in  which  the  post-office  is 
never  opened  during  the  Sabbath,  affords  strong  presumptive  evidence,  that  the 
j)roctice  is  wholly  unnecessary,  as  respects  the  commercial  interests  of  our  country. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Bridgehampton,  Long-Island. 

The  Example  of  Governrnent  pernicious. 

The  legal  injunction  on  postmasters,  and,  their  sub-officers,  to  attend  to  the  du- 
ties of  their  offices  on  the  Sabbath,  certainly  prohibits  them  from  attending  to  the 
performance  of  the  duties  required  of  them  by  the  Governor  of  the  Universe,  who 
sanctified  and  set  that  day  apart,  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  abstinence  from  secular 
«mploymcnt,  and  of  rest  for  every  individual  of  the  human  family.  Moreover,  the 
indulgence  granted  to  mail  coaches  to  pursue  their  daily  vocation  on  that  day  holds 
forth  a  demoralizing  precedent  to  ihe  citizens  of  the  United  States.  Many  team- 
sters, disposed  to  commit  breaches  of  the  Sabbath,  by  transporting  merchandize  on 
that  day,  plead,  in  justification  of  their  conduct,  to  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges, 
as  those  which  mail  coaches  enjoy. 

Petition  of  inhabitanta  of  Strasburg,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Many,  who  habitually  violate  the  Lord's  day,  plead  </te  example  of  the  jtost-office, 
as  an  apology. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania. 

With  the  deepest  regret  your  memorialists  have  witnessed  the  profanation  of  the 
Sabbath  by  the  transportation  of  the  mails,  and  the  delivery  of  letters.  By  so  doing, 
the  government  sets  the  example  of  profaning  that  holy  day — a  day  of  rest. 

Petition  of  InJiabltants  of  Pennsylvania,  (supposed  to  be  from  Chester  county.) 

The  command  of  God,  and  the  welfare  of  our  country  require,  that  you  should 
make  no  law,  which  lays  the  burden  of  breaking  the  Sabbath  upon  inferior  officers  ; 
that  Irom  the  fountain  head  of  the  public  good  no  stream  should  be  sent  forth  to 
desolate  our  comfort,  our  intelligence,  our  morals,  our  liberties,  and  our  religion. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  the  vicinity  of  Agnow'a  Mills,  Pennsylvania. 


23 

,  We  belJevo  wo  have  a  right  to  look  to  the  government  of  our  country  for  exam- 
ple ;  and  we  trust  that  Congress  will  not  sutler  a  practice,  whicl^  continually  under- 
mines the  morals  of  the  community. 

Petition  of  InhabituQtB  of  VViudsor,  Couaocticut. 

That  the  direct  effect  of  the  present  regulations  in  the  post-office  department,  to- 
gether with  the  influence  of  an  example  originating  with  the  government,  tends 
greatly  to  the  general  profanation  of  an  institution,  with  which  the  best  interests  of 
our  country  arc  connected,  and  leads  to  numerous  breaches  of  the  good  order  and 
peace  of  society. 

Petition  of  Inhabitants  of  Philadelphia. 

The  religious  assemblies  of  citizens,  peaceably  convened  for  the  worship  of  God 
on  that  day,  are  in  many  places  disturbed,  and  the  weight  of  national  example  and 
encouragement  is  given  to  the  cause  of  vice  and  irreligion.  Believing,  as  we  do,  in 
the  existence  of  a  God  of  justice,  we  tremble  at  a  view  of  the  judgments,  which 
must  be  expected  from  the  increased  corruption  of  the  public  morals,  which  is  spread- 
ing throughout  our  republic  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  of  which  the  desecration  of 
the  Christian  Sabbath  is  the  most  prolific  source.  Regarding  the  subject  in  a  politi- 
cal point  of  view,  we  apprehend,  that  tbosefeelings  of  reverence  for  the  Sabbath, 
which  exist  in  the  minds  of  the  more  virtuous  part  of  the  community,  have  too  seri- 
ous a  bearing  upon  the  stability  and  i)erpetuity  of  our  free  institutions,  to  be  discour- 
aged and  eradicated  by  legislative  enactments.  Such,  we  think,  to  a  very  great  ex- 
tent, is  the  tendency  of  that  law,  which  requires  the  secular  business,  respecting: 
the  mail  for  this  whole  country,  to  be  transacted  on  that  day,  in  some  measure  at 
least,  as  on  other  days  of  the  week. 

Petition  of  Inhabitanta  of  Atwater,  Pottago  county,  Ohiot 

The  demoralizing  effect  of  withdrawing  so  many  officers  fi-om  exercises  peculiar 
to  the  day  ; — the  allurements  held  out  to  our  citizens  to  gather  around  the  offices 
and  engage  in  political  discussion  ; — the  influence  of  governmental  example,  in  giv- 
ing a  sanction  to  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath  ; — together  with  many  other  similar 
considerations,  cannot  have  escaped  the  attention  of  your  honorable  body. 

Petition  of  Inliubitants  of  Elktoii,  Todil  county,  Kentucky^ 

These  extracts  are  closed  by  the  insertion  of  the  following  Circular, 
adopted  by  inhabitants  of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  addressed  to  gen- 
tlemen in  different  parts  of  that  state.  The  compiler  is  informed,  that 
the  members  of  the  committee  are  men  of  the  first  respectability. 
Several  of  them  are  merchants ;  some  are  magistrates  ;  one  is  an 
editor  ;  and  Mr.  Grundy  was  formerly  a  distinguished  member  of 
congress,  and  is  now  an  eminent  counsellor  at  law.  They  belong  to 
different  denominations  of  professed  Christians. 

Gentlemen,  Nashville,  Dec.  29,  1828. 

As  a  committee  appointed  by  a  meeting  lately  held  in  this  city,  we  ask  your 
serious  attention  to  the  subject  of  the  enclosed  memorial.  We  feel  a  deep  and 
solemn  conviction  that  the  dictates  oi  ivise  public  j'olicy,  as  well  as  a  fust  sense  of 
religious  duty,  require  that  every  discreet  and  temperate  effort  should  be  made,  to 
induce  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  amend  the  laws  regulating  the  post- 
office  department,  so  as  to  prevent  the  transportation  and  opening  of  mails,  and  the 
delivery  of  letters,  newspapers  and  packages  on  the  day,  which  is  almost  universally 
acknowledged  in  our  counti'y  as  the  t'liristiiin  Sabbath. 

We,  therefore,  in  compliance  with  the  duty  enjoined  on  us,  earnestly  solicit  your 
prompt  co-operation,  in  procuring  signatures  to  the  enclosed  memorial,  from  as 
many  persons  of  virtuous  character  as  you  can  ;  and  that  you  forward  your  memorial, 
when  signed,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  by  mail,  to  such  member  of  congress 
as  you  may  deem  proper.  Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  servants, 

WiM.  Cakkom.,  Wm.  M'C^omks,  Josf.i'h  Litton, 

Fkantis  B.  Fogg,  Rop.t.  JI.  IMEwAn,  John  Prick, 

O.H.  Haves,  Hugh  Em.iot,  R.  Wkaki.ey. 

F.Grundy,  John  Nichol,  Jkssk  Wharton, 

MosKs  NoRVELL,  Alpha  Kinoslev,  If.  R.  W.  Hill, 

M.  Watson,  Nathan  Ewxng,  N.  A.  MNaiky. 


24 

SELECTED  NAMES 

From  the  multitudes  to  he  found  upon  the  'petitions. 

It  has  been  intimated,  that  the  whole  business  of  petitioning  last 
winter,  on  the  subject  of  Sabbath  Mails,  was  the  result  of  combination, 
for  selfish  or  ambitious  purposes  ;  and  that  the  petitioners,  though 
some  of  them  might  be  honest  and  well  meaning  persons,  were  not 
capable  of  judging  in  regard  to  a  question  affecting  commercial  inter- 
ests, or  constitutional  provisions.  These  imputations  were  effectually 
repelled,  by  the  report  of  tlie  Post  Office  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  in  which  document  it  was  stated,  that  no  petition  had 
ever  been  offered  to  the  national  legislature,  which  was  more  worthy 
of  consideration  than  the  one  in  question,  whether  the  numbers,  the 
wealth,  or  the  intelligence  of  the  petitioners  was  regarded.  As  a 
general  declaration  of  respectability,  however,  will,  in  this  case,  be 
much  less  convincing,  than  an  actual  presentation  of  names,  a  selec- 
tion has  been  made  for  that  purpose. 

Before  the  reader  looks  at  these  names,  it  seems  necessary  that  a  few 
explanatory  remarks  should  be  made. 

1.  The  design  is,  to  present  a  sufficient  number  of  names  of  gen- 
tleman in  different  places,  of  various  employments,  and  of  different  re- 
ligious denominations,  to  enable  any  candid  man  to  decide,  whether 
the  petitioners  are  not  capable  of  judging  in  the  case  ;  whether  they 
must  not  be  supposed  to  look  at  the  subject  with  enlarged  and  com- 
prehensive views ;  and  whether  the  mere  act  of  signing  the  petition 
should  subject  them  to  the  charge  of  being  narrow,  sectarian,  and  sel- 
fish in  their  object. 

2.  It  should  be  understood,  that  selections  could  not  be  made  from 
petitioners  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  for  the  want  of  a  sufficiently  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  with  their  characters.  On  this  account,  the 
number  of  names  selected  from  some  states  is  small ;  while,  from  pe- 
titioners of  other  states,  none  are  taken. 

3.  From  the  names  of  persons  of  all  professions  and  employments, 
it  seemed  desirable  to  select  some  belonging  to  the  different  great  re- 
Jigious  denominations  in  .our  country ; — names  highly  respected,  in 
large  districts  where  they  are  known,  and  some  of  them  from  one  end 
of  the  country  to  the  other.  Such  a  selection  will  be  found  below. 
For  a  reason  above  stated,  it  was  thought  well,  that  a  large  portion  of 
the  names  should  be  the  names  of  merchants,  counsellors  at  law,  mag- 
istrates, and  legislators  ;  or  of  individuals,  who  had  sustained  these 
characters ;  not  excluding,  however,  manufacturers,  mechanics,  and 
other  men  of  business.  The  names  of  clergymen  are  not  selected, 
except  from  one  petition,  and  thence  for  peculiar  reasons. 

It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  clergy,  of  all  denominations,  are 
friendly  to  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  ;  and  many  of  them'signed 
the  petitions.  Still  the  clergy,  in  our  large  cities,  were  in  no  wise 
prominent,  either  in  preparing  petitions,  or  signing  them,  or  obtaining 
signers.     Men  of  other  professions  took  this  service  upon   themselves. 

AH,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  characters  of  men  in  our  country, 
will  see  that  the  following  list  contains  names  of  individuals,  who 
are  deservedly  eminent,  in  the  professions  to  which  they  belong. 
But  it  is  not  supposed  that  all,  who  are  of  this  distinguished  character, 


25 


have  been  selected.  There  may  be,  and  probably  are,  names,  which 
have  not  been  selected,  quite  as  respectable,  and  as  deserving  of  con- 
fidence, as  any  of  the  names  below.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  se- 
lection to  indicate,  in  any  degree,  the  relative  respectability  of  a  part 
of  the  petitioners  ;  much  less  to  make  any  invidious  distinctions  among 
them  ;  but  simply  to  lay  before  the  reader  such  a  number  of  respect- 
able names,  as  shall  be  syfficient  to  evince,  that  this  subject  has  re- 
ceived the  grave  and  solemn  attention  of  men,  who,  without  disparage- 
ment to  others,  are  as  capable,  as  any  men  in  the  nation,  of  forming 
an  opinion  respecting  the  great  and  permanent  interests  of  our  growing 
republic. 

In  one  or  two  instances,  names  are  given,  which  were  not  upon  pe- 
titions, but  upon  letters  written  in  favor  of  the  petitions,  to  the  post- 
master general. 

From  the  petitioners  the  following  names  are  selected ;  viz. 


Porlland. 
Albion  K.  Parris,  late  Governor,  since 
Senator  in   Congress,  now  a  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court. 
Paschal  Brooks,  IMerchant. 
Lkvi  Cuttkr,  Mer.  formerly  Casliier. 
Woodbury  Storkr,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
William  Loru,  Merchant. 
Nathaniel  Dana,  Merchant. 
Samuel  FtssiNnEN,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
John  D.  Gardner,  Com.  Mer.  and  Auc. 
William  Swan,  Merchant. 
Neuemiah  Cram,  Merchant. 

Haco. 
Ether  Shepley,  U.  S.  District  Attorney. 

Bath. 
Jonathan  Hyde,  Merchant. 

Augusta. 
Gen.  Henry  Sew  all,  Clerk  of  iho  Courts. 

Bangor. 
William  D.  Williamson,  formerly  Mem- 
ber of  Conorress. 
Eliashib  Adams,  Merchant. 

JS-EVT    HAXXPSHIRE. 

Boscawcn. 
EzEKiEL  Webster,   (since  deceased,)    a 
disting'uished   Counsellor   at    Law,   and 
Member  of  the  Senate  of  N.  H. 
Pilham. 
Gen.   Samuel    Richardson,    Mag-istrate, 
formerly  Memlicr  of  the  Senate  of  N.  H. 
Hopkinton. 
Baruch  Chase,  Rlagistrate. 

VERMOITT. 

Tiurlim^tmi. 
C.  P.  Van  Ness,  laie  Governor  of  the  State. 
Heman  Allen,  late  Minister  of  the  U.S. 

to  Chili. 
OziAS  BuELL,  Merchant. 
William  A.  Griswoi.d,  U.  S.  Dis.  Alt. 
Samuel  Hickok,  Merchant. 
Ahdrew  Thompson',  Cash,  of  Burl.  Bank. 

Movtyelier. 
Jeduthan  LooMis,  Counsellor  at  Law. 


Middlebury, 

Ira  Stewart,  Merchant. 

George  Cleveland,  Post  Master. 

Joel  Doolittle,  late  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court. 

Peter  Starr,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Samuel  Swift,  Clerk  of  the  Courts. 
Rutland. 

J.  W.  Hooker,  Merchant. 

William   Page,  Cashier  of  the  Bank. 

James  D.  Butler,  Merchant. 

R.  Piekpoint,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
Manchester. 

Richard  Skinner,   late    Governor,  now 
Chief  Justice. 

Joel  Pratt,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Boston. 
Thomas  L.  Winthrop,  Lieut.  Governor. 
Isaac  Parker,  Chief  Justice. 
Israel  Thorndike,   Merchant,  for  many 

years  Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 
William  1'rescott,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
Josiah  QuiNcr,  Mayor,  formerly  Member 

of  Congress. 
T.  H.  Perkins,  Merchant,  for  several  yeafs 

Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 
Artemas  Ward,  Judge  of  the  Boston  Court 

of  Common  Pleas,  formerly  Member  of 

Congress  for  Boston. 
Peter  ().  Thacher,  Judge  of  the  Munici- 
pal Court. 
William  Simmons,  Judge  of  the  Police 

Court. 

Samuel^Appleton,  Merchant. 
EdwariTTuckerman,  3Ierchant. 
Gardiner  Greene,  President  of  the  U.  S, 

Branch  Bank. 
William  Parsons,  Pres.  of  INIass.  Bank. 
Samuel  Dorr,  Pres.  of  N.  E.  Bank. 
George  Odiorne,  Pres.  American  Bank. 
Isaac  C.  Pray,  President  Globe  Bank, 
H.  B.  Stone,  President  Suftblk  Bank. 
Amos  Lawrence,  Merchant. 
Samuel  T.  Armstrong.  Pres.  Mass. Char. 

Mechanic  Association, 


26 


Peter  C.  Brooks,  Wealihy  Citizen,  for- 
merly Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 

Samuel  Hammond.  Merchant. 

WiLMAM  Ropes,  Merchant. 

Samuei.  Hubbard,  Counsellor  at  Law,  for- 
merly Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 

John  C.  VVarren,  Physician  and  Professor 
of  Anatomy. 

James  Loring,  Editor  and  Bookseller. 

James  Andrews,  Merchant. 

Ebenezer  Parker,  Merchant. 

John  Borland,  Merchant. 

Thomas  G.  Fessenden,  Editor. 

William  Sullivan,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Heman  Lincoln,  late  Mem.  of  Mass.  Sen. 

William  Lawrence,  Merchant. 

John  Tappan,  Merchant. 

Daniel  P.  Parker,  Sliip-owner. 

Charles  Barnard,  Com.  Merchant. 

Thomas  Cordis,  Importer. 

Samuel  D.  P<arker,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Thomas  B.  Wait,  Publisher. 

Lot  Wheelright  &,  Sons,  Merchants. 

Isaac  RIansfield,  Merchant. 

Henrt  Homes,  Importer. 

Tobias  Lord,  Merchant. 

John  B.  Jones,  Jeweller. 

Enoch  Hale,  Jun.  Physician. 

James  C.  Merrill,  Counsellor  al  Law. 

A.  Benjamin.  Architect. 

Nathaniel  Faxon,  ttlechanic. 

Gedney  King,  Matli.  Instrument  Maker. 

Edward  Reynolds,  Physician. 

Charles  G.  Loring,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Abbott  Lawrence,  Merchant. 

W.  &  G.  Tuckerman,  Merchants. 

Edward  D.  Peters,  Merchant. 

Robert  G.  Shaw,  Merchant. 

William  B.  Reynolds,  Merchant. 

John  Pratt,  Merchant. 

Peinv  Cutler,  Merchant. 

yVilliamstown. 

Daniel  Noble,  Coun.  at  Law,  formerly 
Mem.  of  Ex.  Council  of  Mass. 
Lenox. 

W.  Walker,  Judge  of  Probate,  a  venerable 
citizen. 

PitlsfieM. 

Henrv  C.  Brown,  High  Sheriff. 
Blanajord. 

Gen.  Alanson  Knox. 

3IiddleJield. 

Gen.  David  Mack. 

Greenfield. 

George  Grennell,    Jun.    Counsellor  at 
Law,  elected  a  Mem.  of  the  21st  Cong. 
Northamplon. 

Eliphalet  Williams,  retired  Merchant. 

Theodore  Lyman,  Master  of  a  Hotel. 

David  S.  Whitney,  Merchant. 

Lewis   Strong,   Counsellor  at  Law,    arid 
Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 
Spring  field. 

John  Hooker,   (since  deceased,)  a  man  of 
great  worth,  highly  respected,  Pres.  of 
Springfield  Bank,  Judge  of  Probate,  &c. 
West  Spriiio- field. 

Justin  Ely,  formerly  Member  of  Cong. 

Samuel  LATHRop."late  Member  of  Cong, 
now  Member  ol  Mass.  ,Se)iate. 
lielcliertoun. 
Mark  Doolittle,  Member  of  Ex.  Council 
of  Mass. 


Sturbridge. 

David  K.  Porter,  Post-master  and  Stage 
Proprietor. 

Lhicoln. 

Samuel  IJoar,  a  venerable  citizen,  former- 
ly Mem.  of  Mass.  Senate. 
South  Reading. 
John  Hart,  a  venerable  Physician,  formerly 
Member  of  Mass.  Sen. 
Med/ord. 
Thatcher  Magoun,  Ship-builder. 

Cambridge. 
Levi  Farwell,  Merchant. 
Eliab  W.  Metcalk,  Printer  &  Bookseller. 

Salem. 

John  Punchard,  Magistrate. 
Theodore  Eames,  Coun.sellor  at  Law. 

Topsfield. 
Nehemiah   Cleaveland,  Physician,  for- 
merly Member  of  Mass.  Senate. 
Newburyport. 
William  Bartlett,  Merchant. 
William    B.    Banister,    Counsellor    at 

Law,  formerly  Mem.  of  Mass.  Senate. 
Charles  Whipple,  Bookseller. 
Thomas  M.  Clark,  Merchant. 

COlTXrECTZCUT. 

Hartford. 

Jonathan  W.  Edwards,  Counsel,  al  Law. 

Thomas  Day,  Sec.  of  the  Slate,  and  Re- 
porter of  Legal  Decisions. 

Eliphalet  Terry,  Merchant. 

Mason  F.  Cogswell,  Physician. 

John  Bennett,  ftlasler  ot  the  City  Hotel. 

Joseph  Trumbull,  Pres.  of  Hartford  Bank. 

George  Beach,  Cash,  of  Phcenix  Bank. 

Henry  Hudson,  Manufacturer. 

Thomas  S.  Williams,  Counsellor  at  Law, 
and  formerly  Member  of  Congress. 
New  Haven. 

William  Leffingwell,  Retired  Mer. 

Elisha  Munson,  Magistrate. 

Simeon  Baldwin,  formerly  Mem.  of  Cong, 
subsequently  Judge  of  the  Sup.  Court, 
and  Mayor  of  the  City. 

Noah  Webster,  Author. 

Dyer  White,  Retired  Magistrate. 

Abraham  Bradley,  Merchant. 

Samuel  J.  Hitchcock,  Coun.  at  Law,  and 
Lecturer  in  the  Law  School. 

Roger  Sherman  Bald  win,  Coun.  at  Law. 

Charles  H.  Pond,  High  Sheritf. 
Norwich. 

Calvin  Goddard,  formerly  Mem.  of  Cong, 
subsequently  Judge  of  the  Sup.  Court. 

Jabez  Huntington,  31erchant. 

William  P.  Greene,  President  of  Thames 
Bank. 

James  Lanman,  formerly  Senator  in  Cong, 
now  Judge  of  Supreme  Court. 

Jedidiah  Perkins,  Retired  fllcrchant. 
New  London. 

Elias  Perkins,  formerly  Member  of  Con- 
gress, now  Mayor. 

Ebenezer  Learned,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

'I'homas  W.  Williams,  Merchant. 

William  F.  Erainaud,  f'ounsellor  at  Law. 
FairfiM. 

Roger  Minot  Sherman,  Coun.  al  Law. 
Fannington. 

Martin  Cowlf.s,  Merchant. 


27 


Norfolk. 
Joseph  Battell,  Meichaiit. 
MiiiiUduwH. 
Stephen  Titus  Hosmek,  Chief  Justice  of 

the  Stale. 
Nehemiah  HuBBAun,  for  many  years  Pres. 

of  Miildleiowii  Hank. 
Geoboe  \V.  .Stanley,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
IlicuARD  Hubbard,  Manufucluier. 

ZTCW   70IIK:. 

New   York  City. 
Richard  Varick,  formerly  Mayor  of  the 

City,  and   employed  in  many  trusts  of 

high  responsibility. 
Peter  A.  Jay,  Counsellor  at  Law,  formerly 

Recorder  of  the  Cit\'. 
Col.  Henry  Rutgers,  \Veallhy  Citizen. 
Isaac  Lawrence,  President  ot  the  Branch 

Bank  of  the  U.  S. 
Ltnde  Catlin,  Pres.  of  3Tercliant's  Bank, 
John  Low,  Pres.  of  Union  Bank. 
John  Adams,  Pres.  of  Fulion  JJank. 
John  Bolton,  President  of  Delaware  and 

Hudson  Canal  Company. 
Cornelius  Heyer,  Cash,  of  Bank  of  N.  Y. 
M.  Robinson,  Cashier  of  the  Branch  of  i».e 

U.  S.  Bank. 
John  Fleming,  Cash,  of  Mechanics  Bank. 
James  Swokds,  Pres.  of  Washington  Fire 

Lisurance  Company. 
Jonathan  Lawrence,  Pres.  of  Merchants 

Fire  Insurance  Company. 
Rensselaer  Havens,  President  of  Howard 

Fire  Insurance  Company. 
Eleazer  Lord,  Pres.  of  Manhattan  Fire 

Insurance  Company. 
Henry  Rankin,  Pres.  of  Globe  Fire  In.  Co. 
William  W.  Woolsev,  President  of  Mer- 
chants Exchange. 
John  Pintard,  Secretary  of  the  Mutual  Fire 

Insurance  (Company. 
Peter  Hawes,  Sec.  of  the  Washington  Fire 

Insurance  Company. 
Jonas  Pi.att,  Counsellor  at  Law,  formerly 

a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
Hugh  Maxwell,  District  Attorney. 
John  Watts,  Physician. 
Gilbert  Smith,  Physician. 
John  (J.  Warken,  Exclian";e  Broker. 
S.  &  M.  Allen,  E.xehange  Brokers. 
John  Aspinwall,  Exchange  Broker. 
Theodore  Dwight,  Editor  of  Daily  Adv. 
Francis  Hall,  Editor  of  Commercial  Adv. 
John  Taylor  &.  Sons,  Merchants. 
Brown,  Brothers  &:  Co.  3Ierchants. 
Abraham  Van  !Vest,  Merchant. 
David  Johnson,  Merchant. 
Stephen  Storm,  Merchant. 
Thomas  Skelding,  Merchant. 
William  W.  Russell,  Merchant. 
RuKUs  L.  Lord,  Merchant. 
Frederick  Sheldon,  Merchant. 
M.  Van  Sen  vick,  Merchant. 
Pelatiah  Pekit,  Merchant. 
Mc(<REG0R,  Darling  &,  Co.  Merchant*. 
E.  RiGGS,  Merchant. 
Hugh  Auchinclos.s,  Merchant. 
William  VV.  Chester,  Merchant. 
N\JAH  Taylor,  ]\Iprchant. 
Robert  Buloiu,  Merchant. 


Silas  Holme.",  fi.  Co.  Merchants. 

J.  A.  &  W.  W  Post,  Mcrchniii.s. 

Richard  1.  Tucker,  Merchant. 

Stuart  Mollan.  Merchant. 

Gilbert  Couta^t,  Merchant. 

Nathaniel  Richards,  Merchant. 

Arthur  Tappan,  Merchant. 

David  Andrews,  ftlerchant. 

Joel  Post,  Merchant. 

William  Sterling,  Merchant. 

Daniel  Boardaian,  Merchant. 

.Iames  Magee,  Merchant. 

.\beel,  Dunscomb  &,  Co.  Merchants. 

Peter  Ludlow,  Merchant. 

J.  W.  tfe  R.  Leavitt,  Merchants. 

II.  li.  Shiefeelin,  .Merchant. 

David  L.  Dodge,  Merchant. 
I  Robert  Jaffray,  Merchant. 

Fitch,  Goodwin  &  Co.  Merchants. 

John  D.  Keese,  Merchant. 

John  Westfield,  Sailmaker. 

Andrew  C.  Wheeler,  Dealer  in  Provis. 
Albany. 

William  James,  Merchant. 

Abraham  Van  Vechten,  Coun.  at  Law. 

Ambrose  Spencer,  late  Chief  Justice  of  the 
State,  elected  a  Mem.  of  the  21st  Cong. 

John  Woodworth,  late  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court. 

Jacob  Sutherland,  Judge  of  the  Sup.  Ct. 

James  B.  Douglass,  Merchant. 

Smith,  Willard  &.  Co.  Merchants. 

Barent  Bleecker,  Pres.  Bank  of  Albany, 

Joseph  Alexander,  Pres.  Com.  Bauk. 

Corning  &  Norton,  Merchants. 

Nathaniel  Davis,  Merchant. 

William  A.  Duer,  Circuit  Judge. 

James  T.^moureux,  Judge  of  the  Common 
Pleas. 

Hermanus  Bleecker,  Coun.  at  Law. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Edward  C.  Delavan,  Merchant. 

Nathaniel  Pitcher,  late  Lieut.  Governor. 

Charles  E.  Dudley,  Mayor  at  the  time  of 
signing,  since  elected  a  Member  of  the 
United  Slates  Senate. 

Samuel  M.  Hopkins,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Jonathan  Eights,  Physician. 

Friend  Humphrey,  Merchant. 

KiLiAN  K.  Van  Rensselaer,  Coun.  at 
Law,  formerly  Member  of  Congress. 

Francis  Bloodgood,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

John  James,  Physician. 

.\braham  Keyser,  Treasurer  of  the  Stale. 

James  King,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

.4NANIAS  Pi  ait.  Farmer. 

John  Van  Ness  Yates,  Counsellor  at  Law, 
formrrly  Sec.  of  the  Stale,  now  Commis- 
sioner of  Schools  for  the  Stale. 
Troy. 

Derick  Lane,  Retired  Merchant. 

Samuel  McCoun,  Ret.  Mer.  now  Mayor. 

(JuRDON  Corning.  Druggi.'il. 

Nathan  Dauchv,  31erchaiit. 

John  p.  Cushman,  Coun.  at  Law,  formerly 
Member  of  Congress. 

Jacob  Bishop,  Merclianl. 

Joseph  Russell,  Merchant. 

Micah  Lyman,  Druggist. 

l.ansiriirlinrgh. 

F,.  W.  WAi.BniDGK,  Coimsellor  al  Law. 

Elijah  Jaies,  Merchant. 


28 


Jamks  Rkid.  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Lan- 

singburgn. 
Caltin  Barkek,  Post-master. 
E.  Parmjelek  &•  Son,  Brewers  and  Chand- 
lers. 
Romeo  Walbridge,  Stage-proprietor. 
John  Fitch,  Master  of  a  Hotel. 

Waler/ord. 
John  Hot;sE,  Flour  Manufacturer. 

Sackeit's  Harbor. 
Hiram  Steele,  Magistrate. 
John  M.  CANFiEi-n,  Col.  of  the  Customs. 

Rochester. 
M.  Chapin,  First  Judge,  Monroe  county. 
H.  Ely,  Flour  Manufacturer. 
S.  D.  Chapin,  in  the  Transport.  Business. 
William  Groves,  Clerk  of  the  Court, 
S.  Chipman,  Editor. 

Jamaica,  L.  I. 
Eliphalet  Wickes,  Post-master, 

Yotmgstovm. 
J.  Johnson,  Lieut.  U.  S.  Army. 

Granville. 
Reuben  Skinner,  Merchant. 

Durham. 
W1J.LIAM  Battell,  Farmer. 

Catskill. 
Orrin  Day,  Wealthy  citizen. 
Benjamin  W.  Dwight,  Merchant. 
Samuel  L.  Penfield,  Merchant. 

Watertown. 
Levi  Beebee,  Manufacturer. 

Johnstown.  » 

T.  A.  Stoutenburgh,  Post-master. 

Brooklyn. 
Joshua  Sands,  Merchant. 
A.  Van  Sikderen,  Ret.  Merchant. 
Petzr  W.  Radcliffe,  Coun.  at  Law. 

Bedford. 
William  Jay,  Judge'  of  the  county. 

Newark. 

'1'heodore  Frelinghuysen,  Attor.  Gen- 
eral at  the  lime  of  signing,  since  elected 
a  Blcmher  of  the  U.  S.  Senate. 

Joseph  C.  Hornblower,  Couii.  at  Law. 

VVilliam  Pennington,  Coun,  at  Law 

David  D.  Crane,  Judge  of  the  Com.  Pleas. 

Jesse  Baldwin,  Merchant. 

John  Ward,  Physician. 

James  Tichenor,  Manufacturer, 

VVilliam  Tuttle,  Printer  &.  Editor. 

Charles  T.  Shipman,  Manufacturer. 

L.  H.  Smith,  Physician. 

Ldther  Go ble,' Manufacturer. 

Philo  Sanford,  Merchant. 

Robert  B.  Campfield,  Manufacturer, 
Elizahethtowji. 

Caleb  Halstead,  Mayor. 

Shepard  Kollock,  Ppst-master. 

John  M.  Trumbull,  Merchant. 

Stephen  P.  Brittai.v,  Merchant. 

James  P^arl,  Merchant. 

1).  S.  Halstead,  Coun.  at  Law. 

Foster  Day,  Manufacturer. 
Priricton. 

Robert  Voorhees,  Mavor. 

Ebenezer  Stockton,  Physician. 

.1.  Wilson,  Mprrhanl. 

Z.  Morford,  Manufacturer, 


JoHW  C.  ScHENCK,  Merchant. 

Trenton. 
Charles  Ewing,  Chief  Jus.  of  the  Stale. 
Robert  McNeely,  Mayor. 
Daniel  Coleman,  Sec.  of  the  State. 
William  L.  Prall,  Editor  and  Clerk  of 

Assembly. 
Thoivv'S  L  Stryker,  Merchant. 
John  McElway,  Physician. 

Bridgton. 

L.  Q.  C.  Elmer,  U.  S.  District  Attorney. 
I)aniel  Elmer,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Burlington. 
William  Rossell,  U.  S.  Dis.  Judge. 
Abraham  Brown,  Surrogate. 
Samuel  J.  Reed,  Clerk  of  the  County. 
John  W.  Sterling. 
Joseph  C.  Clark. 
Samuel  Wqolman. 

Westjield. 
Samuel  Downer,  Merchant. 
CoRKA  OsBORN,  Physician. 

Philadelphia. 
Robert  Ralston,  Merchant, 
Alj:xander  Henry,  Retired  Merchant. 
Gen.  William  Duncan,  Merchant. 
Col.  Caleb  North,  formerly  Sheriff  of  the 

city. 
Otis  Ammidon,  Treasurer  and  Agent  of  the 

Lehigh  Coal  Company. 
Solomon  Allen,  Dealer  in  Exchange, 
Joseph  H.  Dulles,  Merchant. 
Ambrose  White,  Merchant. 
John  Stille,  Merchant, 
Thomas  Elmes,  ftlanufacturer, 
John  W.  Claxton,  Merchant. 
Joseph  BIontgomery,  Merchant. 
Gen.  R.  Patterson,  Merchant. 
James  WiLLBANK,  Merchant. 
Ennion  Williams,  Merchant. 
Jacob  S.  Waln,  Merchant, 
Pittsburgh. 
William  Wilkins,  U.  S.  District  Judge, 

recently  elected  a  Mem.  of  the  2Ist  Cong. 
E.  Pentland,  Recorder  of  Pittsburgh. 
Hugh  Davis,  U.  S.  Marshal, 
Isaac  Harris,  Merchant, 

Butler  Coun/y, 
John  Parker,  Judge. 

Mercer  County, 
Walter  Oliver,  High  Sheriff. 
Samuel  B.  Foster,  Coun.  at  Law. 
Robert  Glenn,  Farmer. 

MABVZ.AITD. 

Baltimore. 

N.  Brice,  Chief  Jud^e  of  the  City  Court. 
Peter  Hoffman,  Merchant, 
Robert  Gilmer,  Merchant. 
Luke  Tiebnan,  Merchant. 
John  IMcKim,  Jun.  Merchant. 
R.  L.  Colt,  Merchant. 
Joseph  King,  Jun.  3Ierchant, 
William  Wilson  &  Sons,  Importers. 
Hugh  Boyle,  Merchant. 
James  Cox,  Cash,  of  the  Bank  of  BaWmore. 
William  Birckhead,  Physician. 
James  H.  M'Cullock,  Collector  of  the  Port. 
G,  BrowN;  Merchant. 


29 


R.  H.  DouoLASS  &  Co.  Merchants. 
Thomas  Kf;i.so,  Dealer  in  Provisions. 
CusHiNG  &  JjfiWETT,  Hooksellcrs. 
Chaui.es  Howard,  CoLiiisullor  at  Law. 
William  Norris  &.  Son,  Merchants. 
John  Giuson  &  Co.  Importers. 
William  H.  Freeman,  Coun.  at  Law. 
Mitchell,  Henry  &  Co.  Auctioneers. 
Thomas  Tyson,  Flour  Manufacturer. 
James  Bkundige,  Commission  Mercbaut. 
Gerard  T.  Hopkins,  Merchant. 
William  Bayley,  Drug-gist. 
William  H.  Murray, Cash. ofMech.  Bank. 

AIiJiXILNBIilA,  D.  O. 

Colin  Auld,  Wealthy  Citizen. 
A.  C.  Ca/.enove,  Merchant. 
John  C.  Vowell,  Merchant 
Humphrey  Peake,  Collector  of  the  Port. 
Thosias  Vowell,  Pres.  of  Mechaxiics  Bank. 
William  Gregory,  Merchant. 
Thomas  Sanford,  Mechanic, 
N.  R.  FiTZHUGH,  Merchant. 
C.  Page,  Cashier. 
P.  H.  Hoof,  Cashier. 

VIRGINIA. 

Fredericksburgli . 
Basil  Gordon,  31crchant. 
Daniel  Grinnan,  Merchant. 
Alexander  Henderson,  Merchant. 

Petersbnrrrh. 
Hugh  Nelson,  ISlcrchant. 
James  Dwight,  Merchant. 
William  M.  Atkinson,  Coun.  at  Law. 
BoswELL,  Merchant. 

Morgan  County. 
John  Jones,  High'Slierid". 

Prince  Edward  Couviij. 
Richaad  N.  Venable,  Coun.  at  Law. 
James  D.  Wood,  Merchant  and  Planter. 
Henry  N.  Watkins,  Coun.  at  Law. 
James  Madison,  Merchant  and  Planter. 

(ireenbrier  County. 
A.  W.  Arbuckle,  Wealthy  Citizcui, 

Hanover  Cuunty. 
Benjamin  Pollard,  Planter. 

Greenville  County. 
Robert  Doake,  Planter. 
Samuel  Fin  ley.  Planter. 

Albemarle  County. 
Andrew  Hart,  Planter. 

Bedford  County. 
Michael  Graham,  Magistriiie. 

Atigiista  County. 
Joseph  Cowan,  Merchant. 
John  C.  iSowf.rs.  Meichajil. 
Charles  A.  SruART,  JMagistralc. 
W.  Clarke,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

NORTH  CAROIiINA. 

Gen.  Calvin  Jones,  of  Wake  Forest,  near 

Raleigh. 

In  the  preceding  list,  no  names  of  clergymen  appear.  It  was 
thought  most  desirable  to  select  names  of  gentlemen,  engaged  in 
secular  pursuits,  who  are  fair  representatives  of  the  more  active,  en- 
terprising, and  intelligent  portion  of  our  citizens ;  whose  business  is 
most  affected  by  the  proper  management  of  tlte  post-office  ;  and  who 


SOUTH  OAROXiINA. 

Charleston. 
Thomas  Napier,  Merchant. 
Charles  Edmondston,  Mer.  and  Factor. 
John  Lowden,  Merchant. 
John  Haslet,  President  of  Fire  and  Marine 

Insurance  Company'. 
Frederick  G.  Fraser,  Mer.  and  Factor. 
M.  King,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
Ker  Boyce,  Merchant  and  Factor. 
Keating  Simons,  Pres.  of  the  Baiikof  S.C. 
John  Robinson,  Merchant. 
Jasper  Corning,  Merchant. 
Charles  A.  West,  Merchant. 
John  Gadsden,  U.  S.  District  Attorney. 
Thomas  Flemming,  Merchant. 
Thomas  Chapman,  Merchant. 
James  Calder,  Merchant. 
Duke  Goodman,  Merchant  and  Factor. 
John  Kirkpatrick,  ftlerchant. 
Thomas  S.  Grimke,  Coun.  at  Law. 
Charles  McIntire,  Merchant. 
James  Adger,  Merchant. 
James  Black,  Merchant. 
Charles  Kershaw,  Merchant. 
James  Mitchell,  Planter. 
Charles  H.  Tunis,  Merchant. 
Joseph  Tyler,  Merchant. 
G.  Gibes,  Merchant. 
John  Stoney,  Merchant. 
William  Birnie,  Merchant. 

Camden. 
William  Blanding. 
J.  31.  Dessaussure. 

GEORGIA. 

Augusta. 

Thomas  Cumming,  President  of  the  Branch 
of  Augusta. 

Jonathan  Meigs,  Merchant. 

William  T.  Gould,  Counsellor  at  Law. 

Brewster  &  Prescott,  Wliolesale  Gro- 
cers. 

Joel  Catlin,  Jeweller. 

OHIO. 

Cincinnati. 
Isaac  G.  Burnet,  Mayor  of  the  City. 
Enos  Woodruff,  Judge  of  the  Com.  Pleas. 
Stephen  Burrows,  Merchant. 
Morgan  Neville,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
Samuel  Ramsay,  Physician. 
David  E.  Wade,  Mechanic. 
Samuel  Lowry,  Merchant. 
Henry  B.  Funk,  Mechanic. 

Zanesville. 
Robert  Fulton,  Merchant. 
S.  P.  Herrick,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
Edwin  Putnam,  Merchant. 
I.  Spangler,  Counsellor  at  Law. 
G.  Buckingham,  Merchant. 


30 

are  competent,  both  on  account  of  their  practical  knowledge,  and  their 
large  acquaintance  with  human  affairs,  to  form  a  correct  judgment  of 
the  subject,  in  all  its  bearings.  It  is  not  necessary  that  the  selection 
should  be  perfect,  in  order  that  the  great  end  of  it  may  be  answered. 
Clergymen,  as  well  as  laymen,  of  different  religious  denominations, 
are  found  among  the  petitioners.  That  so  delightful  a  union,  for  so 
hitTh  and  holy  a  purpose,  may  be  apparent,  the  following  sixteen  names 
are  published,  in  regular  sequence,  without  transposition  or  omission, 
as  they  stand  together,  and  form  a  part  of  the  names  upon  the  petition 
from  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Thus  standing  together,  these 
names  bear  a  consentaneous  and  united  testimony  to  the  value  of  the 
Sabbath,  pleasing,  it  is  believed,  to  the  eye  of  God,  and  gratifying  to 
the  hearts  of  good  men. 

Rev.  Philip  Milledoler,  D.  D.  President  of  Rutgers  College,  and  Professor  of  Theology 

in  the  Seminar}'  of  ilie  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
Rev.  James  S.  Cannon,  D.  D.  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History. 
Rev.  John  De  Witt,  Professor  of  Theology. 

Theodore  Strong,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy. 
Joseph  Nelson,  Professor  of  Languages. 

Rev.  George  G.  Cookman,  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Rev.  John  Croes,  U.  D.  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  New  Jersey. 
Rev.  James  R.  Hardenbergh,  Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
G.  S.  Webb,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Joseph  H.  Jones,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Rev.  Daniel  Dodge,  (residing  in  New  Brunswick,)  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  iu  Pis- 

cataway. 
R.  McChesney,  "1 

JosEP^  Mcc'Snet,  \^^^Ses  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 
Jacob  Van  Winkle, J 

Col.  John  Neilson,  Retired  merchant,  a  revolutionary  officer  of  merit,  and  one  of  the 
most  venerable  men  in  the  country. 


CONCLUDING    OBSERVATIONS. 

From  what  has  appeared  in  the  preceding  pages,  it  must  be  mani- 
fest to  every  candid  mind,  that  the  petitions  to  congress,  in  relation 
to  the  transportation  and  opening  of  the  mail  on  the  Sabbath,  did  not 
originate  in  any  transient  feeling,  nor  in  any  narrow,  or  local,  or  per- 
sonal views  ;  but  that  they  were  the  result  of  much  reflection,  and  a 
solemn  conviction  of  duty,  in  regard  to  a  subject,  which  is  deemed  by 
the  petitioners  to  be  vitally  important  to  their  country  and  to  individu- 
als,— to  the  present  generation  and  to  posterity.  It  is  plain,  therefore, 
that  the  purpose  of  the  petitioners  cannot  be  relinquished,  and  that  no 
suitable  means  of  attaining  it  should  be  neglected. 

The  reasons,  which  they  assign,  are  of  the  gravest  character,  resting 
on  a  sense  of  obligation  to  obey  an  express  command  of  God, — a  full 
persuasion  that  a  disregard  of  this  command  will  bring  down  upon  our 
land  the  displeasure  of  Heaven, — a  deliberate  opinion,  that  the  Sab- 
bath is  one  of  the  most  glorious  proofs  of  the  divine  beneficence  ; — 
that  it  is  eminently  calculated  to  make  communities,  wherever  it  is 
properly  observed,  virtuous,  prosperous  and  happy  ;  that  the  loss  of 
this  institution  would  be  a  calamity  so  awful,  as  that  any  well-ground- 
ed ap})rchension  of  it  might  reasonably  excite  the  most  gloomy  fore- 
bodings ;  that  the  present  regulations  of  the  post-office  tend  strongly 
toward  the  abolition  of  the  Sabbath ;  that  they   are,  therefore,  in  the 


31 

highest  sense,  adverse  to  the  public  good  ;  that,  as  the  preservation  of 
moral  integrity,  or  a  sense  of  responsibility  to  God,  extensively  among 
the  people,  is  confessedly  essential  to  the  continuance  of  a  republican 
government, — every  enlightened  patriot,  as  well  as  every  true  Chris- 
tian, must  cherish  the  institutions  of  religion,  as  the  great  means  of 
perpetuating  our  free  government ;  that  the  laws  of  the  several  States 
are  disregarded,  and  the  religious  privileges  of  the  people  invaded,  by 
the  present  regulations  of  the  post-office  ;  and  that  the  inconvenience 
of  having  the  mails  at  rest  and  the  post-offices  closed  on  the  Sabbath, 
is  very  small,  compared  with  the  great  and  alarming  evils  of  a  con- 
trary course. 

All  these  topics,  and  many  others  of  a  kindred  nature,  are  urged  by 
the  petitioners  with  great  sincerity  and  earnestness.  Though  some 
misapprehension  may  have  existed,  as  to  the  motives  and  the  design  of 
the  petitioners,  no  candid  man,  who  peruses  the  foregoing  pages,  can 
doubt,  whether  the  motives  assigned  are  not  the  true  and  operative 
motives, — and  the  only  motives  generally  entertained  by  the  numerous 
"writers,  as  well  as  by  the  signers,  of  the  memorials.  This  being  ad- 
mitted, no  statesman  of  enlarged  and  comprehensive  views  can  deny, 
that  the  subject  of  these  memorials  is  as  well  worthy  of  solemn  con- 
sideration, as  any  subject  which  has  ever  been  presented  to  the  assem- 
bled representatives  of  the  nation. 

It  has  been  asserted,  that  all  the  petitions  proceeded  from  one  pen  ; 
— a  striking  instance  of  the  carelessness,  willi  which  assertions  are  fre- 
quently made,  by  persons  who  know  nothing  about  the  subject  on 
which  they  write.  The  preceding  quotations  are  made  from  about 
ninety  original  petitions  ;  and  there  were,  in  fact,  considerably  more 
than  a  hundred  petitions  of  this  character  ;  all  uniting  in  the  same  re- 
quest, and  speaking  the  voice  of  conscientious  and  reflecting  citizens 
from  Vermont  to  Alabama,  and  from  Maine  to  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Besides  the  petitions,  many  letters  were  written,  in  corrobo- 
ration of  them,  to  the  postmaster  general,  and  to  members  of  congress. 
The  fact  that  God,  in  his  holy  providence,  brought  forth  so  loud  an 
expression  of  public  sentiment,  is  hailed  with  joy  by  numerous  friends 
of  their  country  and  of  mankind.  It  is  acknowledged  with  tears  in 
the  closet,  and  around  the  domestic  altar,  and  is  recognized  as  a  bles- 
sed token  that  the  Lord  of  the  Sacbatu  will  not  give  up  this  holy 
day  to  desecration  and  contempt. 

The  only  objections,  which  have  appeared  to  weigh  in  the  minds  of 
considerate  men,  against  granting  the  prayer  of  the  memorialists,  are 
these  two  ;  viz.  that  the  delivery  of  letters  on  the  Sabbath  is  promo- 
tive of  commercial proi^perittf  ;  and  that  the  transportation  of  the  mail, 
especially  on  the  great  roads,  is  necessary  to  prevent  the  sending  of 
expresses,  on  the  Sabbath,  by  which  that  day  would  be  violated,  and 
advantage  would  be  taken  of  recent  commercial  intelligence,  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  injure  the  honest  merchant. 

By  a  little  attention  it  may  be  seen,  that  the  importance  of  these 
objections  is  vastly  over-rated. 

As  to  the  first,  the  petition  of  merchants  of  Baltimore,  (which  was 
written,  as  the  compiler  has  reason  to  believe,  by  one  of  the  most  in- 
telligent, experienced,  and  honorable  merchants  in  the  United  States, 
and  which  is  expressed  with  great  candor  and  good  sense,)  regards 


32 

the  inconveniences,  which  would  result  from  the  regulations  prayed 
lor,  as  being  "  very  inconsiderable." 

Again,  the  example  of  London  is  better  than  a  volume  of  arguments. 
Some  of  the  most  active  merchants  of  that  metropolis  have  declared 
it  to  be  a  great  relief  io  have  one  day  in  seven,  on  which  the  laborious 
and  exhausting  process  of  reading  and  answering  letters  is  necessarily 
intermitted. 

As  to  the  second  objection,  it  has  been  strangely  magnified  for  want 
of  attention  to  facts.  How  often  is  intelligence  received,  which  would 
warrant  the  expense  of  sending  expresses  1  Will  any  considerate 
merchant  say,  that,  for  the  last  ten  years,  intelligence  of  this  kind  has 
been  received  fourteen  times  a  year,  on  an  average  1  The  compiler 
does  not  believe  it  has  been  received  seven  times  a  year.  But  take 
fourteen  as  the  number.  As  intelligence  of  this  kind  would  not  be 
more  likely  to  arrive  on  or  near  the  Sabbath,  than  on  or  near  any 
other  day,  the  probability  is,  that  there  would  be  no  inducement  to 
send  expresses  on  more  than  two  Sabbaths,  in  a  year,  on  an  average. 
Shall  the  mails  be  carried,  in  every  part  of  the  \]mon,jifty  two  Sab- 
baths in  the  year,  as  the  only  expedient  to  prevent  expresses  being 
sent,  on  a. few  great  roads,  two  Sabbaths  in  a  year? 

Again,  expresses  may  easily  be  sent,  as  the  mails  now  go,  every  day 
in  the  year,  so  as  frequently  to  anticipate  the  mail,  in  all  our  great 
cities,  from  ten  hours  to  fifty  hours,  according  to  the  distance  of  the 
cities  from  each  other  :  and  yet  how  seldom  are  expresses  sent  1 

If  important  commercial  intelligence  should  reach  New  York,  on 
Monday,  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M.,  it  might  easily  be  sent  to  Boston,  so  as 
to  arrive  from  20  to  24  hours  before  the  steam-boat  mail,  which  would 
leave  New  York  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  and  26  or  27  hours  before  the 
land  mail  of  Tuesday  morning.  The  same  intelligence  might  be  sent 
to  Philadelphia,  so  as  to  anticipate  the  steam-boat  and  land  mail  more 
than  12  hours,  giving  to  the  New  York  speculator  all  the  business 
hours  of  Tuesday,  for  the  practice  of  his  skill,  in  the  markets  of 
Philadelphia.  He  might,  of  course,  greatly  distance  the  mail  at  Balti- 
more, and  onward  to  the  south-west. 

Intelligence  is  very  apt  to  arrive  at  New  York  from  abroad,  in  the 
morning,  or  in  the  forenoon.  In  all  these  cases,  the  mail  might  be 
distanced  in  every  direction  ;  and  this  may  be  done  every  day  in  the 
year.     Yet,  how  very  seldom  are  expresses  sent  ? 

This  subject  might  be  set  in  a  still  stronger  light,  by  an  examination 
of  more  particulars ;  but  the  limits  of  these  pages  do  not  allow  it. 

In  conclusion,  the  people  of  the  United  States  have  it  in  their 
power  to  secure  their  religious  freedom,  their  civil  institutions,  and 
their  national  prosperity,  to  themselves  and  to  future  ages,  if  they  will 
sanctify  the  Sabbath,  and  thus  enjoy  all  its  benign,  restraining,  and 
enlightening  influences  ;  but  if  they  unwisely  disregard  the  voice  of 
experience  and  the  voice  of  God,  it  may  be  said  of  them,  by  the  Su- 
preme Lawgiver,  as  it  was  said  of  the  Jewish  commonwealth  ;  J^ut 
i/^yc  will  not  hearken  unto  me  to  hallow  the  Sabbath  day,  and  not  to 
bear  a  burden,  even  entering  in  at  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  on  the  Sab- 
bath day ;  then  1 7cill  kindle  a  fire  in  the  gates  thereof,  and  it  shall 
devour  the  pcdaces  of  Jerusalem,  and  it  shall  not  be  quenched. 


T.  R.  Marvin,  Printer. 


^•" 


^3P 


